Chapter-5
Jack
Ernest/Mr. Ernest Worthing/Uncle Jack/John Worthing, J.P./Ernest John. The protagonist of the play, Jack seems like a respectable young man, but leads a double life as a clever dandy. He goes by ‘Ernest’ in town and ‘Jack’ in the country. Meanwhile, he pretends to have a brother also named ‘Ernest’ whose mischief frequently calls him back to town. The adopted son of Mr. Thomas Cardew, Jack is not only heir to a fortune, but also guardian to Cardew’s granddaughter, Cecily. Jack’s engagement to Gwendolen Fairfax is endangered after a comedy of errors leads her to uncover Cecily’s existence and Jack’s true identity. The ‘J.P.’ initials after his name stand for ‘Justice of the Peace’.
Algernon Moncrieff
Jack’s best friend, Gwendolen’s cousin, and Lady Bracknell’s nephew. He is a charming bachelor and extravagant dandy, who specializes in making witty remarks and ‘Bunburying’, or finding clever ways of getting out of his social obligations. He masquerades as Jack’s cousin ‘Ernest’ in order to meet Cecily Cardew.
Gwendolen Fairfax
Jack’s betrothed, Algernon’s cousin, and Lady Bracknell’s daughter. Cosmopolitan, stylish, and sophisticated, she has opinionated views on matters of taste, morality, and fashion. She is also very vain and pretentious, as demonstrated by her refusal to marry anyone, but ‘Ernest’.
Cecily Cardew
Jack’s ward, Mr. Thomas Cardew’s grand-daughter, and Algernon’s love interest. Cecily is a starry-eyed young lady who prefers writing in her diary to studying. She dreams of meeting Jack’s cousin, ‘Ernest’, and constructs an elaborate, fictional engagement between herself and this elusive persona.
Lady Bracknell
Called Aunt Augusta by her nephew Algernon, she is Gwendolen’s stuffy and judgemental mother. Lady Bracknell’s views are entrenched in Victorian social mores, so she will not allow Jack to marry Gwendolen until he finds some suitable ‘relations’.
Miss Prism
Cecily’s prim and pedantic governess, she espouses such rigid views on morality that they seem quite ridiculous. Her love interest is Dr. Chausible.
Dr. Chasuble
The rector on Jack’s country estate. Algernon and Jack turn to him to be christened, ‘Ernest’. Dr. Chasuble’s love interest is Miss Prism.
Lane
Algernon’s butler. Merriman Jack’s butler at his country estate, Manor House.
Mr. Thomas Cardew
The rich man who adopts Jack as a baby and charges him with the guardianship of Cecily. Though he never actually appears as a character in the play yet he’s referenced a few times.
Lord Bracknell
Referenced in passing, he is Lady Bracknell’s husband and Gwendolen’s father.
Mrs. Moncrieff
Mentioned sparingly, she is Lady Bracknell’s sister and Algernon’s mother. She is also the mother of the baby-boy accidentally abandoned in a hand-bag in a coatroom atVictoria station, making her Jack’s mother as well.
General Moncrief
Mrs. Moncrieff’s husband, Algernon’s father, and Lady Bracknell’s brother-in-law. He also turns out to be Jack’s father. Jack is his namesake.
