Wilde depicts the use of dishonesty for pleasure or self-gain in his fictional fictitious characters Earnest (actually John and than later Algernon) and Bunbury (a fake invalid for Algernon). This idea was a huge part of the play. The title The Importance of Being Earnest means literally the importance of being serious or sincere which is kind of funny because this play is based on characters that are constantly not being earnest. This idea is most prominently brought to attention in the beginning of the play not even fifteen pages in. Jack, posing as Ernest, explains to Algernon the reasons as to why Jacks lost cigarette case was a present from someone by the name of Cecily. When questioned about Cecily Jack had said he didn’t know anyone by the name. Jack goes on to explain he has created this alter ego (Ernest) in order to protect his dear ward Cecily. Algernon explains he has some experience in what Jack is doing, with his fake friend Bunbury. Algernon explains “you have invented a very useful younger brother called Earnest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like…” Algernon has proven the point right there. He’s lying to go into town and be himself. Also Algernon has been doing the same thing the whole time. Another instance in which this type of dishonesty is shown is when Jack lies to Gwendolyn about his name because after asking her is she could love anyone with another name he even offers up another solution maybe the name Jack? He asks she replies “Jack? ..... No, there is very little music in the name Jack, if any at all, indeed. It does not thrill. It produces no vibrations…..” So now he’s lying to the girl that is soon to be his wife? What does he expect is going to happen when they actually do get married? The last example of how Wilde portrays this is when Algernon who’s posing Ernest at Jack’s (Ernest’s) house. When Jack confronts Algernon about how terrible he is being and how ungentle man like he is being Algernon says “my duty as a gentleman has never interfered with my pleasures in the smallest degree.” Algernon is clearly saying he’d rather have pleasure than be a gentleman. Also Algernon went to Jack’s house dishonestly posing as Ernest in hopes of courting jacks ward Cecily. In just these two characters we can see Wilde’s way of showing us dishonesty in search of pleasure. These two characters don’t really care who they have to lie too in order to get what they want.
