The Importance of Being Earnest

From a window of Jack’s country house, Cecily and Gwendolen watch the two men finish their muffins and come into the house. Cecily asks Algernon why he pretended to be Jack’s brother, and Algernon says he did it to meet her. Gwendolen asks Jack if he pretended to have a brother so that he could come to London to see her as often as possible. He says that he did. 

At first, the ladies seem inclined to accept the men’s contrition and resume their engagements, but they then say that the men’s “Christian names are still an insuperable barrier” (74). Jack and Algernon reply that they have each arranged to be christened Ernest that afternoon. The two couples embrace just as Merriman announces the arrival of Lady Bracknell.

Gwendolen tells her mother that she is engaged to Jack, and Lady Bracknell orders her to come sit next to her. She insists that Jack cease all communication with Gwendolen. She then asks Algernon if this is the house Mr. Bunbury lives in. He stammers out that Bunbury has just died. She is glad that Bunbury has finally made up his mind and died under the advice of medical authorities.