What central symbol signals social performance in the play?

• A. The name Ernest is a symbol of social weight.
• B. The name Ernest represents sincerity and social weight.
• C. The character's dress signals status.
• D. The engagement ring signals social power.

Answer: (B)

The central symbol is the name Ernest, because it functions as a social performance device in the play. Adopting the name Ernest becomes a way for characters to project sincerity and gain social trust and acceptance. The humor and critique come from the clash between the promise of “earnestness” (sincerity) and the reality of the characters’ staged identities. Wilde uses this name to show how Victorian society prizes appearances and reputation—people pretend to be honest and serious to secure marriages and status.

The best choice captures both parts of that idea: the name Ernest stands for sincerity (earnestness) and carries social weight (the power and legitimacy the name affords). Other signals like dress or an engagement ring appear as social indicators, but they aren’t the recurring, defining symbol that drives the play’s satire. A mentions social weight but misses the sincerity angle; C and D focus on surface signals rather than the name as a performative identity.