ACT I

At the beginning of Act I, Algernon Moncrieff, a young gentleman, receive his best friend, Ernest Worthing. Ernest has come from the country to propose to Algernon's cousin, Gwendolen. Algernon, however, refuses his consent until Ernest explains why his cigarette case has the inscription, "From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack."  Jack tells Algernon about his fictional brother. Jack says he’s been thinking of killing this fake brother. Then Algernon confesses he pretends to have an invalid friend named Bunbury in the country, whom he can "visit" whenever he wants to avoid social obligation.

Gwendolen and her mother Lady Bracknell arrive, which gives Jack an opportunity to propose to Gwendolen .She accepts, but seems to love him also for his name of Ernest. Lady Bracknell interrogates Jack as a possible son-in-law, but when she discovered that he was adopted she refuses him and forbids further contact.