What does Jack say when asked about Cecily first?

• A. I don't know anybody with the name of Cecily
• B. Cecily is his sister
• C. Cecily is a servant in his household
• D. Cecily is a new acquaintance

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is deception and how Wilde uses quick evasions to fuel the comic misunderstanding. When someone asks Jack about Cecily, his first instinct is to deny knowledge of anyone by that name. This denial lets him keep up the pretense that he has no ward named Cecily in town, which is crucial for maintaining his double life and avoiding suspicion in the moment. The humor comes from the mismatch between what the audience knows (that Cecily exists as his ward in the country) and what Jack tries to convey (that he doesn’t know anyone named Cecily at all). If Jack were to admit knowing Cecily, or describe her as a sister or a servant, the ruse would falter immediately, so the denial is the natural, purposeful choice that fits his situation and Wilde’s satire of social manners.