Major Events
Algernon disapproves of Jack’s wish to propose to Gwendolen - Jack tells Algy that he is Jack in the country and Earnest in the city - Algy says Jack is a “bunburyist” like himself
Jack proposes to Gwen - Lady Bracknell disapproves of marriage after finding out Jack doesn’t know who his real parents are
Cecily meets Algernon who is pretending to be Jack’s brother Earnest
Jack tells Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble his brother Earnest died - Cecily appears to say that Jack’s brother Earnest (Algy) has arrived
Conflict between Gwen and Cecily - they both think they’re engaged to Earnest
Discovery that “Earnest” isn’t one person - Jack and Algy are both pretending to be Earnest
Algernon tells Lady Bracknell that Mr. Bunbury is dead
Algy tells Lady Bracknell that he is engaged to Cecily - only approves because of Cecily’s fortune - Jack disapproves
Miss Prism tells Lady Bracknell the truth about leaving her baby in a bag at a railway station
Jack brings in the same bag that Miss Prism described - this bag was one that Jack acquainted with his birth parents - she confirms
Lady Bracknell tells Jack that his mother is her poorer sister and that Jack and Algy really are brothers
Army lists show that Jack’s father’s name was Earnest - so Jack’s name really is Earnest after all