Question

What do Cecily and Gwendolen do upon learning from Jack that “Ernest” is a fiction?

• A. Shout
• B. Disavow their respective engagements
• C. Leave arm‑in‑arm
• D. Storm off separately

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Shout

• When Jack reveals that "Ernest" does not actually exist, and that neither he nor Algernon is truly named Ernest, Cecily and Gwendolen are furious and deeply offended.

• Their immediate reaction is to turn against the men and unite in their shared betrayal. They hold hands and retreat into the house together, leaving Jack and Algernon outside, desperately trying to win back their favor.

• This moment is both comedic and ironic, as the women are not truly upset about being deceived in general—they are upset specifically because the men are not named Ernest. Their obsession with the name, rather than the men themselves, highlights Wilde’s satire on superficiality in Victorian romance.