Summary on the importance of being earnest
The curtain rises on Algernon's upper-crust apartment in London's prestigious West End. We hear Algernon playing the piano in another room while Lane, the butler, arranges afternoon tea on the table. Algernon enters shortly and begins a discussion with Lane. We learn that Lady Bracknell, Algernon's aunt, will be arriving soon for a visit with her daughter, Gwendolen. After a brief, witty dialogue on marriage, Lane is dismissed only to reenter and announce the arrival of Ernest Worthing, Algy's friend. Ernest says that he has just returned from Shropshire, the location of his country estate, where he was entertaining neighbors. Algy announces that Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen will be arriving presently. Ernest is excited for their arrival because he plans to propose marriage to Gwendolen. Algernon tells Ernest that he thinks Ernest will never marry Gwendolen because girls never marry the men with whom they flirt and because he, Algy, will not give his consent as Gwendolen's first cousin until Ernest explains to him who Cecily is.