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两个男主角一样，格温多林和塞西莉也有很多的共同点。有欧内斯特的事情：一个叫欧内斯特的人结婚似乎是他们的生活的追求。
Like thetwo male leads, Gwendolen and Cecily also have a lot in common. There’s the Ernest thing: marrying a man named Ernest seems to be the founding principal of their lives. The two women even say it in unison: "Your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier. That is all!" (III.29) Gwendolen and Cecily both keep a diary,http://www.ukassignment.org/dxygessay/ which they believe would pretty much stand up in a court of law as proof of whatever they say. And both are willing to fight tooth and nail to get what they want, though not in front of the servants. Neither Cecily nor Gwendolen has much of a character arc, because the absurd plot simply unfolds to their advantage. In the end, Cecily does have to make do with an "Algernon." So we guess Gwendolen wins since she alone ends up marrying an "Ernest."
Why did Oscar Wilde make them so similar? Because his main interest was satirizing the society that produced women like them – not the individuals themselves.
Lady Bracknell Junior
"You don’t think there is any chance of Gwendolen becoming like her mother in about a hundred and fifty years, do you Algy?" (I.227) Jack asks in the first scene. Bad news, Jack. You may not be able to see beyond the blond ringlets and cute Victorian corset, but the signs are all there. Gwendolen is opinionated and forceful like her mother; she bosses Cecily around with ease. Gwendolen also has strong ideas about social protocol, which we see in the first scene. Jack's marriage proposal has to be exactly right:
GWENDOLEN
Yes, Mr. Worthing, what have you got to say to me?
JACK
You know what I have got to say to you.
GWENDOLEN
Yes, but you don't say it.
JACK
Gwendolen, will you marry me? [Goes on his knees.]
GWENDOLEN
Of course I will, darling. How long you have been about it! I am afraid you have had very little experience in how to propose. (I.161-165)
The City Girl
Gwendolen has been raised in the city and is polished and sophisticated. She enjoys this advantage over Cecily, whom she considers a country bumpkin. There are a number of hilarious town vs. country barbs in their tea scene, the least veiled of which happens here:
CECILY
Do you suggest, Miss Fairfax, that I entrapped Ernest into an www.ukassignment.org engagement? How dare you? This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.
GWENDOLEN
[Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different. (II.295-29)
Based on this snippet of dialogue, it certainly looks like it's fighting time. But no – the servant Merriman enters and quickly restores calm. One woman may be country girl and the other city girl, but both know you don’t let it all hang out in front of the servants.
Read Gwendolen Fairfax's Timeline >
Gwendolen Fairfax Timeline and Summary
• Gwendolen and her mother Lady Bracknell visit Algernon.
• Gwendolen stays behind with Jack-as-Ernest while Lady Bracknell goes off with Algernon.
• Gwendolen rhapsodizes on how much she loves the name "Ernest."
• Jack-as-Ernest proposes to Gwendolen. She accepts.
• Gwendolen is sent down to the carriage while her mother interviews Jack-as-Ernest.
• Gwendolen comes back and declares her undying love for Ernest.
• Gwendolen gets Jack's country address.
• Gwendolen runs away from home to the Manor House.
• Gwendolen meets Cecily. She examines her and wishes Cecily were older.
• When they learn they’re both engaged to "Ernest," Gwendolen and Cecily insult each other over tea.
• Jack and Algernon arrive at the scene and the truth of their identities is revealed to the girls.
• Gwendolen and Cecily retreat to the house.
• Gwendolen and Cecily forgive the boys after they learn why they lied.
• Gwendolen flies into Jack’s arms after discovering his real name is indeed Ernest.
Cecily Cardew
Character Analysis
Cecily and Gwen
Yes, they’re so much alike they could be sisters – and now they will be. You might want to check out "Gwen and Cecily" in Gwendolen's "Character Analysis" for more information on what the two women have in common.
Cecily the Country Girl
Part of what makes Cecily attractive to Algernon is her seeming simplicity. She’s not intellectual like Gwendolen, who very early on scolds Jack, "Ah! that is clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculations has very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know them" (I.149). We can’t really imagine Cecily talking about metaphysics – or facts, for that matter. Cecily does everything she can to vigorously avoid Miss Prism’s attempts to educate her. She’s innocent – Gwendolen might say ignorant. She waters the plants, writes in her diary, and waits for the day that Ernest will come and propose.
Cecily and Fiction
Cecily may hate German diction, but she loves stories. She gets so excited when Miss Prism reveals that she has written a three-volume novel. And Cecily describes Algernon’s desires to reform himself as "Quixotic," indicating that she’s read the novel by Cervantes in which a man with delusions of grandeur has numerous adventures. Like Algernon, Cecily loves a good bit of fiction – and her favorite writer is herself.
In her diary, she makes long entries recording romantic events that are entirely fictional. We love this one:
#p#分页标题#e#
CECILY
Worn out by your entire ignorance of my existence, I determined to end the matter one way or the other, and after a long struggle with myself I accepted you under this dear old tree here. The next day I bought this little ring in your name, and this is the little bangle with the true lover's knot I promised you always to wear.
ALGERNON
Did I give you this? It's very pretty, isn't it?(II.215-216)
喜剧是所有复杂的细节 如 树，戒指，手镯，真正的情人结 才是 阿尔杰农的事实。阿尔杰刚刚推出在梦幻般的漫画世界中的重要性不是儿戏，。有趣的是，阿尔杰农的又一迹象，表明她是有为他塞西莉的古怪行为的女孩。
The comedy is in all the intricate details – the tree, the ring, the bangle with the true lover’s knot – and the fact that Algernon doesn’t quietly send for a straightjacket. In the fantastical comic world of The Importance of Being Earnest, Algy just rolls with it. Interestingly enough, Algernon takes Cecily's eccentric behavior as yet another sign that she is the girl for him.
Not As Sweet As She Looks
Cecily may be younger, less fashionable, and less sophisticated than Gwendolen, but she can give as good as she gets. Check this out:
GWENDOLEN
Are there many interesting walks in the vicinity, Miss Cardew?
CECILY
Oh! yes! a great many. From the top of one of the hills quite close one can see five counties.
GWENDOLEN
Five counties! I don't think I should like that; I hate crowds.
CECILY
[Sweetly] I suppose that is why you live in town? [Gwendolen bites her lip, and beats her foot nervously with her parasol.]
GWENDOLEN
[Looking round] Quite a well-kept garden this is, Miss Cardew.
CECILY
So glad you like it, Miss Fairfax.
GWENDOLEN
I had no idea there were any flowers in the country.
CECILY
Oh, flowers are as common here, Miss Fairfax, as people are in London. (II.299-306)
Gwen got schooled. The girls are superficially civil here because the butler, Merriman, is setting up the tea. Neither Gwendolen nor Cecily can commence the scratching and hair-pulling in front of him. But Cecily proves that, though she may have been raised in the country, she’s primed to enter London society as Algernon’s wife. She’s quick-witted and determined, and with the guidance of her new sister-in-law, Gwendolen, she’ll be formidable. In time, we can almost see her taking on Lady Bracknell.
Read Cecily Cardew's Timeline >
Cecily Cardew Timeline and Summary
• Cecily waters the roses.
• Cecily discovers that Miss Prism wrote a three-volume novel.
• Cecily lies that Miss Prism has a headache to get out of doing her German lesson. As a result, Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble (who are crushing on each other) go on a walk together.
• Cecily meets Ernest who is really Algernon in disguise.
• Cecily flirts with Ernest and promises to reform him.
• Cecily invites Ernest in for dinner.
• Cecily reconciles Uncle Jack with ‘Ernest.’
• Cecily comes back out to water the roses and ends up spending more quality time with Ernest.
• Cecily reveals her and Ernest’s love letters and engagement, which she has recorded in her diary for the past few months.
• Cecily reveals how much she loves the name Ernest.
• Cecily meets Gwendolen.
• Cecily and Gwendolen insult each other over tea once they’ve learned that they’re both engaged to Ernest Worthing.
• Cecily and Gwendolen learn the truth from the boys – that there is no Ernest.
• Cecily and Gwendolen retire into the house to fume at the boys.
• Cecily and Gwendolen forgive the boys once they learned why they lied.
• Cecily is pronounced a worthy fiancée for Algernon by Lady Bracknell.
• Cecily and Algernon hug joyously, knowing they can finally get married.
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