Who is Bunbury?

• A. Algernon's 'sick' friend used as an excuse to avoid social engagements.
• B. Jack's actual brother.
• C. A fictional suitor for Cecily's affection.
• D. A cousin of Lady Bracknell.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is understanding Bunburying—the idea of inventing a fictitious sick friend to get out of social obligations. In the play, Algernon uses Bunbury as a convenient excuse to dodge engagements and obligations in town while he enjoys his own leisure. That fake friend, Bunbury, lets him explain away sudden illnesses or absences with plausible reasoning, highlighting Wilde’s satire of how society codes and rituals can be manipulated for personal convenience. The humor and tension come from how casually the characters talk about deception and how those little fabrications drive the plot and reveal their attitudes toward propriety.

So, Bunbury is not Jack’s brother, nor a fictional suitor for Cecily, nor a cousin of Lady Bracknell. It’s Algernon’s invented invalid friend used to avoid social duties.