Question

Why does Cecily put sugar in Gwendolen’s tea?

• A. She doesn’t hear what Gwendolen said
• B. She doesn’t understand what Gwendolen said
• C. She disagrees with what Gwendolen said
• D. She wants to insult Gwendolen

Answer 1

Answer:

B. She doesn’t understand what Gwendolen said

• Cecily deliberately puts sugar in Gwendolen’s tea as a subtle act of revenge after Gwendolen passive-aggressively insults her.

• During their tense tea scene, Gwendolen, believing that Cecily is engaged to her Ernest (Jack), tries to assert her superiority by stating that sugar is no longer fashionable and refusing it. However, Cecily ignores this and adds sugar to Gwendolen’s tea anyway, showing her quiet defiance.

• This is part of their polite but fiercely competitive battle over who is truly engaged to "Ernest." Wilde uses this moment to satirize the hypocrisy of upper-class manners, where seemingly innocent gestures—like serving tea—become weapons in a social power struggle.