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What inspires Gwendolen’s confidence in Jack, leading her to accept his marriage proposal?

AHis assumed name

BHis large inheritance

CHis large biceps

DHis easy manner

Answer:

A. His assumed name

Read Explanation:

Gwendolen’s confidence in Jack, leading her to accept his marriage proposal, is entirely based on his name—"Ernest."

Why Does Gwendolen Love the Name "Ernest"?

  • She believes that the name symbolizes honesty, integrity, and strength.

  • She tells Jack:
    "My ideal has always been to love someone of the name of Ernest."

  • She is convinced that she could never love or marry a man with any other name because “Ernest” has a certain musical and reassuring quality.

The Irony of Her Belief

  • Jack is actually living a double life and is not named Ernest at all—his real name is Jack Worthing.

  • Despite his lack of actual "earnestness" (honesty), Gwendolen trusts him purely because of the name—which is hilariously ironic.

  • This highlights Wilde’s satire on Victorian values, showing how shallow and absurd social ideals can be.

How This Becomes Important Later

  • Jack realizes that to marry Gwendolen, he must find a way to become "Ernest"—leading to the famous plot twist where he discovers that he was actually named Ernest all along.

  • This ridiculous yet brilliant ending parodies the idea that names, rather than actions, define character.


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