Cecily Cardew is young and pretty ward of Jack Worthing who stays with him in his country house. She receives her lesson from an elderly woman, named Miss Prism. But it seems that she is more interested in watering the plants than taking lessons in German grammar. Though she is referred in the first act of the play, the audiences could only meet her in the second Act. At this time she was watering the flower garden. Though she is quite young, she is clever enough to understand that Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble were interested in each other. Therefore, when Dr. Chasuble arrives there, she sends Miss Prism with him for a walk.
Her helping nature is also seen from the fact that she wanted to meet Uncle Jack’s brother, Ernest and cure him of his wickedness. She believed that it would help the brothers to understand each other in a better way, which would bring them emotionally closer. Therefore, when Algernon introduces himself as Ernast Worthing, she happily welcomes him. Even she notes down his words of admiration in her diary. She also tells him that she was so much fascinated by his name Ernest that she has imagined they are already engaged to each other, even before they met. Like Gwendolen, Cecily too would marry the man whose name is Ernest.
Cecily is a friendly person, who was always ready to welcome her guests. It is seen when Gwendolen comes there in order to meet Jack. Cecily very cordially welcomes Gwendolen and makes her feel comfortable in her new surroundings. But when she suspects that Gwendolen has come there to meet Ernest, her own fiancée, she expresses her womanly attitude towards her. However, after her doubt gets cleared, she readily unites with Gwendolen as if they are sisters. Thus, Cecily’s is a lovable character in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.
