What does the word Earnest mean in the context of the play's title?

• A. Honest/sincere
• B. Bold/brash
• C. Wealthy
• D. Courageous

Answer: (A)

At the heart of the title is a sense of seriousness and truthfulness. Earnest, in this context, means being honest, sincere, and genuine. Wilde doubles that idea with a pun: the word sounds like the male name Ernest, which sparks the play’s humor because the characters pretend to be named Ernest to seem more trustworthy and morally serious. The comedy comes from the tension between the characters’ outward “earnestness” and their actual behavior, which often undercuts that seriousness. So the best reading of the word in the title is honest/sincere, highlighting Wilde’s satire of social pretenses.

The other options miss that core sense. Bold/brash, wealth, and courageous describe different traits that aren’t what the title is signaling; the emphasis is on sincerity and the playful critique of appearances versus truth.