In Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, Jack lives a double life; known as Jack Worthing at home in the country a
nd as his own younger brother Earnest Worthing in London society. He finds himself in love with Gwendolen, his friend Algernon's cousin, so he confides in Algernon about his true identity, and the young ward that he cares for in the county. Algernon then travels to the county posing as Earnest Worthing and falls in love with Jack's ward Cecily. When the two women meet they quickly discover that they are both engaged to Earnest Worthing, and that Earnest Worthing does not exist, but they eventually decide that a name is not as important as the person behind the name. Both men learn that honesty is always best. What effect does this sequence of events most likely have on the text? Question 1 options:
It creates humor since both men are pretending to be the same fictional character.
It creates tension since both women theink they are engaged to Earnest Worthing.
It creates surprise since both women find out that they are engaged to a different man who called himself Earnest Worthing.
It creates mystery about who Earnest Worthing really is.
It creates surprise since both women find out that they are engaged to a different man who called himself Earnest Worthing.
Explanation:
When the two women finally realize that they had been dating men with different identities who called themselves Earnest Worthing, they are surprised. Surprise is a state of shock because an event or fact is unexpected.
The knowledge that what they knew as true was not really true must have been a source of shock and surprise to the two ladies.
The narrator's statements are immediately suspicious because he begins by mentioning "the disease" and its effects on his senses. This suggests a psychological or physical illness has affected his brain. His further comments in lines 19-20 about "how wisely I proceeded" and "with what foresight" suggests a distorted view of his intelligence.
This is because all of the other options do not belong to a true epic, and fit more with a satire. A true epic is supposed to be serious and present a great deed by the main hero or the heroes.
