The Cigarette Case and the Truth About Ernest
from The Importance of Being Earnest
Written by Oscar Wilde
Algernon interrogates Jack about a mysterious inscription found inside a misplaced cigarette case. As Jack attempts to explain away the presence of a woman named Cecily, he is forced to confess his double life and the truth about his real name.
ALGERNON: I think that is rather mean of you, Ernest, I must say. However, it makes no matter, for, now that I look at the inscription inside, I find that the thing isn’t yours after all.
JACK: Of course it’s mine. You have seen me with it a hundred times, and you have no right whatsoever to read wh
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Act II — The Engagement Diary
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Algernon, posing as the fictional 'Ernest', attempts to woo Cecily in the garden. He is bewildered to discover that Cecily has already documented their entire romance and engagement in her diary long before they actually met.
Gwendolen and Cecily's First Encounter
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Act II, Scene 1 — Gwendolen's Candour
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Gwendolen discovers that her fiancé, Ernest (Jack), has a young and beautiful ward named Cecily. She attempts to maintain Victorian politeness while expressing her deep insecurity and jealousy regarding Cecily's 'alluring' appearance.
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Gwendolen expresses her sudden insecurity and polite jealousy upon discovering that her fiancé, Ernest, has a young and beautiful ward. She attempts to maintain a mask of high-society decorum while suggesting that Cecily's physical charms might be a threat to Ernest's moral fortitude.
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