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   troutmiller Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The very last page of the play doesn't quite explain it all, but there is one final realization that the reader should pick up on.  As Jack reads from the book the names of the men in the army lists of the period, he reads down through the names alphabetically.  As he reaches the name of Moncrieff, he hesitates when he sees the name, then the says the first two names of General Moncrieff: Ernest John.  Then the stage directions say he "Puts book very quietly down and speaks quite calmly." He's obviously making it up.  He could have shown everyone, but he very slyly closes the book and sets it down.  The last few lines are when Lady Bracknell realizes what he's done and says, "My nephew, you seem to be displaying signs of triviality."  He replies that he has finally realized the "importance of being earnest."  Notice the spelling of EARNEST.  He took advantage so that he could get what he wanted and needed.  So he lied!  That was final ending.

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   Posted by troutmiller on Tuesday February 3, 2009 at 4:51 AM