Reverend Chausable is romantically inclined toward which character?

Reverend Chausable is romantically inclined toward which character?

• A. Prism
• B. Cecily
• C. Gwendolen
• D. Lady Bracknell

Answer: (A)

The situation tests your knowledge of character relationships and how Wilde uses flirtation to fuel the comedy. Reverend Chausable’s behavior and dialogue with Miss Prism reveal a light, playful attraction to her; he flirts, flusters, and treats her with affectionate solicitude, which signals his romantic interest. Miss Prism is the governess who oversees Cecily, and their banter fits the running joke of respectable figures engaging in unexpected romance, a hallmark of Wilde’s satire. None of the other options fit this dynamic: Cecily and Gwendolen are central to other romantic pairings, and Lady Bracknell is a formidable social gatekeeper rather than a love interest for Chausable. So the character he is romantically inclined toward is Miss Prism.

The situation tests your knowledge of character relationships and how Wilde uses flirtation to fuel the comedy. Reverend Chausable’s behavior and dialogue with Miss Prism reveal a light, playful attraction to her; he flirts, flusters, and treats her with affectionate solicitude, which signals his romantic interest. Miss Prism is the governess who oversees Cecily, and their banter fits the running joke of respectable figures engaging in unexpected romance, a hallmark of Wilde’s satire. None of the other options fit this dynamic: Cecily and Gwendolen are central to other romantic pairings, and Lady Bracknell is a formidable social gatekeeper rather than a love interest for Chausable. So the character he is romantically inclined toward is Miss Prism.