The central motif of the title's wordplay connects which two ideas?

• A. The name Ernest and being earnest.
• B. The color of attire and status.
• C. The weather and mood.
• D. The setting and action.

Answer: (A)

The title’s wordplay links a name to a trait: Ernest and being earnest. Wilde’s humor hinges on the homophone between the name Ernest and the adjective earnest (meaning sincere or serious). The central idea is that characters adopt the name Ernest to appear honest and principled, which creates irony and satirical commentary on social pretensions. So the best answer is the one that ties the name Ernest to the quality of being earnest. The other options miss the linguistic joke at the heart of the title, pointing to colors, weather, or setting, which aren’t what Wilde uses to drive the title’s meaning.