App Logo

No.1 PSC Learning App

1M+ Downloads
What is the name of the fictional friend that Algernon Moncrieff invents to avoid boring social situations?

ABloomberg

BBunbury

CErnest

DWilloughby

Answer:

B. Bunbury

Read Explanation:

The name of the fictional friend that Algernon Moncrieff invents to avoid boring social obligations is Bunbury.

Who is "Bunbury"?

  • Algernon creates an imaginary invalid friend named "Mr. Bunbury," who supposedly lives in the country and frequently falls ill.

  • Whenever Algernon wants to escape a dull dinner party or social event, he claims that he must go "Bunburying"—meaning he has to visit his sick friend.

  • This allows him to live a double life, much like Jack does with his "Ernest" persona.

The Concept of "Bunburying"

  • "Bunburying" becomes a term for leading a double life or avoiding social responsibilities through deception.

  • Algernon even tells Jack:
    "You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like. I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose."

  • This highlights Wilde’s satire on Victorian society, where people maintain appearances while secretly breaking social norms.


Related Questions:

Who are the main self-interested gossips in The School for Scandal?
Which of Shaw’s plays focuses on the class divide in Edwardian society?
What theme is most prominent in The Glass Menagerie?
Which of the following themes is NOT commonly explored in Synge's plays?
What does Lady Bracknell accuse Miss Prism of having stolen twenty‑eight years ago?