AJack is Algernon’s brother
BJack’s name is Ernest
CJack is Gwendolen’s cousin
DAll of the above
Answer:
D. All of the above
Read Explanation:
The revelation that Jack is Lady Bracknell’s nephew brings several key pieces of information to light:
Jack is of noble birth – He is the son of Lady Bracknell’s late sister, meaning he belongs to a respected aristocratic family. This immediately makes him socially acceptable as a suitor for Gwendolen.
Jack is Algernon’s older brother – Since they share the same mother, this means Jack and Algernon are actually siblings, adding an ironic twist to their ongoing rivalry.
Jack’s real name is actually Ernest – After checking the army records of his late father, Jack discovers that his father’s name was Ernest John Moncrieff and that he was named after him. This means that, all along, Jack has been "Ernest" by birth, fulfilling Gwendolen’s obsession with marrying a man by that name.
This revelation resolves all conflicts in the play:
Jack can now marry Gwendolen since he is of proper lineage.
Cecily and Algernon’s engagement is approved since Jack, as her guardian, can now give consent.
The ironic title of the play is fulfilled, as Jack has, in fact, been “earnest” in name, if not in behavior, the whole time.
This final twist is Wilde’s perfect satirical punchline, highlighting the absurdity of Victorian social values.