Annotaion of a Quote

This quote is found in Act 2 between Algernon and Cecily when algernon has gone Bunburying as Jacks younger brother Earnest 

Algernon: “Oh! I am not really wicked at all, cousin Cecily. You mustn’t think that I am wicked.”

Cecily: “If you are not, then you have certainly been deceiving us all in a very inexcusable manner. I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.”

Algernon is bunburying as Ernest but because he doesn't know much about him he states that he never could be wicked. Jack always says that his brother is wicked and has a wild lifestyle which is why no one has meet him. Cecily then believes that he has been lieing the whole time. 

Cecily says that hypocrisy os pretending be wicked and being really good all the time but the real definition is pretending to have standards that one does not have. 

Analysis of a scene in 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

The scene is when Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen visit Algernon for some Afternoon tea.

At the beginning of the scene Lady Bracknell asks Algernon if he behaving well. When Algernon responds she immediately corrects him which shows that she has a higher knowledge then him. When Lady Bracknell notices Jack in the stage directions it says that she 'bows to him with icy coldness' this suggests that she does not like jack and his intentions with Gwendolen. Algernon diverts the conversation with his aunt by exclaiming to Gwendolen that she is smart. Gwendolen then flirts with Jack who go sit down together in a corner.

Lady Bracknell Gossips with Algernon about Lady Harbury whose husband had just died and that was the reason why she was late. She then asks for a cucumber sandwich which she had been promised, Algernon then goes over to the tea table and realizes that while taking to Jack he had eaten them all.

He calls out to Lane about the lack of cucumber sandwiches which Lane pretends that he had gone down to the market twice but there were no cucumbers. This shows that Lane and Algernon have a close relationship were Lane knows when he needs to lie for Algernon. While Algernon goes over to the tea table Lady Bracknell asks Gwendolen if she would like with her. Gwendolen however prefers the company ofJack and declines the offer. This could be a another reason why Lady Bracknell has a distaste towards him.

Lady Bracknell is not concerned about the lack of cucumber sandwiches and talks about a married women called Mary Farquar that she would like Algernon to take to dinner that evening. Regretfully, Algernon tells Lady Bracknell that because his friend Bunbury had fallen ill, he’ll be unable to come to dinner after all. Bunbery is coinage that Oscar Wilde made up which means a made up excuse to get out of doing something boring. While Algernon talks about Bunbury he glances at Jack this could mean that he doesn't mind Jacks other alias Ernest because he does it himself. Lady Bracknell is irritated by Bunbury's 'shilly shallying' about whether he is going to live or die. This suggest that Lady Bracknell does not care for those who have poor health. Algernon offers to go over the musical program for an upcoming reception with her and takes her into the music room.