Relationships scarcely work if dishonesty cards is actually played, nevertheless the males however lied so you’re able to surpass Gwendolyn and you may Cecilys greatest males
Since the Gwendolyn and you will Cecily do not have knowledge of the mens deceit, each other women are happy they have located a person whoever entitled Serious, however, it such as for instance by creating idealism consist when you look at the wanting to marry a man entitled Ernest, and you may thinking-righteous indignation is actually temporarily mocked in the event the a couple of lady claim that these are typically tricked because of the Jack and you can Algernon (Jackson 166). Wilde comically mocks the ladies just for trying to e getting Earnest. Regarding the entire gamble, Gwendolyn and you may Cecily are entirely uninformed one to its the male is way of living twice existence to escape off their greatest. He or she is exposed to the new deceit its men was starting later when you look at the Work One or two when they’re talking to one another about their people. Gwendolyn describes Jack to the identity Serious: Serious possess an effective upright nature. He’s the very spirit of details and you can prize. Disloyalty could well be as the impractical to him because the deceit ( Advantages Location 572). Gwendolyn believes when the men comes with the term Earnest you to their personality have a tendency to live up to what the title setting. Both women battle with both about that is in fact marrying Earnest, and you may Jack and you may Algernon enter the scene.
Jack and you may Algernon know Cecily and you can Gwendolyn wouldn’t parece was indeed Earnest; hence, they’d so you can pretend they were most named by this term and consequently lay the matchmaking in peril due to dishonesty from the beginning of the connection
The men are officially open contained in this world. They are faced about their deceitfulness and you can show that they have maybe not resided up to the fresh new womens criterion. Because ladies stuck her or him, Jack and you can Algernon was obligated to tell the truth and ask having forgiveness.
The guy replies, I’m able to reject they if i enjoyed. I’m able to refute anything basically particularly. However, my title indeed is actually John. It has been for decades. ( Importance Place 627-35).
Right here, Jack however keeps on to the womens ideals, and you can attempts to getting what the people need rather than their genuine mind. The guy really wants to satisfy Gwendolyns requirement, even if filled with sleeping on the their name. Jacks remark in itself means that he it really is isn’t earnest. He acknowledges that he possess lied, however, underneath the terminology, it suggests that he would getting ready once again so you’re able to meet the fresh criterion Victorian neighborhood features for men. Cecilys comment, yet not, shows the genuine paradox of the scene: A disgusting deception could have been skilled into both of us ( Characteristics Venue 631). Pulled together with her, both verses reflect Jacks profile and you may denote irony. Wilde is utilizing satire right here as the ladies was indeed lookin for a person who is each other named Serious and you can existence right up toward title, but neither one among these boys do. Jack attempts to allow have a look you to to help keep regarding doing things severely incorrect he’d to lay so you’re able to Gwendolyn, however, he could be now 
selecting the honorable way-out and confessing their lay. In the doing so, he is doing the latest earnestness the ladies find greatest during the a guy.
These types of lady, who’ve learned beliefs throughout the Victorian people, effortlessly influenced Jack and you may Algernon. In the event the Cecily and you will Gwendolyn accept her or him, it indicates you to definitely Victorian neighborhood was accepting them as well. This is why, Jack and you may Algernon were pressed on lifestyle a double lifetime to meet by themselves, its people, and you will Victorian people.