Short Answer 
The response outlines the key characters from Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” and pairs them with relevant quotes that reflect their personalities. It then analyzes the themes of the play, highlighting elements of love, deception, and societal expectations present in the characters’ interactions.
Step 1: Identify the Characters
Start by listing the characters from Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Each character demonstrates unique traits and perspectives that enhance the play’s themes. The key characters to note are:
- Jack Worthing
- Gwendolen Fairfax
- Cecily Cardew
- Algernon Moncrieff
- Lady Bracknell
Step 2: Match Quotes with Characters
Next, pair each character with their corresponding quote. This step requires understanding the essence of each quote and how it relates to the character’s personality or actions in the play. Here are the pairs:
- Jack Worthing – “If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.”
- Gwendolen Fairfax – “Oh, I don’t think I would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn’t know what to talk to him about.”
- Cecily Cardew – “It is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?”
- Algernon Moncrieff – “The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!”
- Lady Bracknell – “I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone.”
Step 3: Analyze the Themes
Finally, consider the underlying themes reflected in the quotes and characters. Wilde’s work provides satire on Victorian society, focusing on love, deception, and societal expectations. These themes emerge through:
- The contrast between sincerity and deception as seen in Jack and Cecily.
- Humor and romantic ideals presented by Gwendolen.
- Algernon’s critique of truth, reflecting modern complexities.
- Lady Bracknell’s perspective on ignorance, highlighting societal norms.