Answer:
B) Mannerly
Explanation:
Remember that someone mannerly is someone who is polite or corteous, this means he doesn't disrespect people when talking to them. In this case by the use of "excuse me" we can se he is sorry to interrupt, his manners are shown. He also calls the woman "Lady Bracknell", showing she has some authority over him and making her be aware he resptects it. Another clue is that Jack doesn't use any contractions when speaking, intead of saying "it's" he says "it is", this is a proof of his politeness.
B) Mannerly.
In this particular instance, Jack Worthing displays a perfectly impeccable mannerism, byaddressing Lady Bracknell by her title, and very politely mentioning to her the terms of Miss Cardew’s grandfather’s will.
Further Explanation:
The characterization of Jack in the play has several aspects that need to be explored. While he adheres to the conventions of modern Victorian age values, he also displays certain hypocrisy in his attitude. His display of perfect mannerism is a sort of a show that he puts on for the other members of the society, and he wants these people to see him as the very embodiment of perfect mannerism and respectability. However, he hides his real image behind the portrayal of his alter ego, Ernest. Infact, Jack makes up the character of Ernest so that he is able to escape from these daily displays of taking on responsibilities, and indulge in the sort of irresponsible unruly behavior that he told people, was the work of his imaginary brother.
The characterization of Jack is a satire by which Wilde portrays the general attitude and tolerance of the Victorian society towards hypocrisy. Jack keeps both of his personas alive within himself. He explains his frequent absences from Hertfordshire, by putting out a ruse about his imaginary brother Ernest, who led an unchristian life and was always falling into trouble, for which it became his responsibility to bail him out of all troubles. In reality, the persona of his imaginary brother was Jack’s personality in reality. He used Ernest as a cover-up to explain his abandoning of duties and responsibilities to seek for pleasure and immoral acts. It also helps Jack to cross the boundaries that have been set on him otherwise by the society, until finally, his two identities clash, leaving him to seek out who he really is.
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Answer Details:
Grade: High School
Chapter: The importance of being Earnest
Subject: English
Keywords:
Victorian society, morals, ideals, mannerisms, persona, identity, clash, responsibility, alter ego, immoral acts.
