Read the excerpt from Act II of The Importance of Being
Earnest.
Part of this excerpt would be considered an
understatement because
Cecily. [Rather shy and confidingly.] Dearest
Gwendolen, there is no reason why I should make a
secret of it to you. Our little county newspaper is sure to
chronicle the fact next week. Mr. Ernest Worthing and I
are engaged to be married.
Gwendolen. (Quite politely, rising.] My darling Cecily, I
think there must be some slight error. Mr. Ernest
Worthing is engaged to me. The announcement will
appear in the Morning Post on Saturday at the latest.
O when Cecily says, “There is no reason why I should
make a secret of it to you,” she actually does have a
reason to keep it a secret.
o when Cecily says, “Mr. Ernest Worthing and I are
engaged to be married,” she is actually making a joke.
when Gwendolen says, “I think there must be some
slight error,” she is actually referring to the large error
of Cecily saying she is engaged to Ernest.
O when Gwendolen says, “The announcement will
appear in the Morning Post on Saturday,” she is not
telling the truth.