his shows Jack’s clever way of avoiding responsibility. It also highlights Wilde’s theme of hypocrisy and double life in Victorian society. Jack’s two selves create comedy but also confusion.

Jack’s Love for Gwendolen: Jack’s role becomes more serious when he falls in love. He loves Gwendolen Fairfax deeply. But a problem arises. Gwendolen insists she can only marry a man named “Ernest.” She says in Act I: 

“The only really safe name is Ernest.” 

This creates conflict because Jack’s real name is not Ernest. Even, Jack decides to “kill off” his imaginary brother. He says to Algernon, “I am going to kill my brother. Indeed, I think it is high time that I did.” But Jack also faces Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen’s mother. She asks about his background and rejects him.  In Act I, Lady Bracknell says:

“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.” 

This shows how society values family background over real love. Here, Jack’s role is to expose the shallow values of marriage in Victorian society. 

The Mystery of Jack’s Birth: Jack’s biggest problem is his mysterious birth. He was found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station. This makes him unacceptable to Lady Bracknell. She refuses to allow Gwendolen to marry him. In Act I, he admits to Lady Bracknell,

 “I don’t actually know who I am by birth.” 

The mystery of Jack’s birth becomes the heart of the story. It connects the play with class prejudice. 

The Revelation and Resolution: The climax reveals Jack’s true identity. Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess, once left a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station. That baby was Jack. Lady Bracknell recognizes the story and reveals that Jack is the lost son of her sister. In Act III, she declares:

“You are the son of my poor sister, Mrs. Moncrieff, and consequently Algernon’s elder brother.” 

This revelation solves the problem of Jack’s unknown birth. His real name has also been discovered. He finds his father’s name was Ernest. Jack happily says in Act III :

“I’ve now realised for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”

This final twist connects his real name with the play’s title. It also joins love, identity, and comedy in one resolution.

In Conclusion, Jack Worthing’s role is crucial to the plot and themes in the play. His double life, his love story, and his hidden identity drive the story forward. Wilde uses Jack's character to satirize names, class, false appearances, and shallow values of Victorian society.