Why else does Jack want to get rid of his 'brother'?

Why else does Jack want to get rid of his 'brother'?

• A. Cecily is getting to be interested in him.
• B. He wants to marry Gwendolen without competition.
• C. The 'brother' is ruining his social plans.
• D. He wants to claim the inheritance now.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that Jack’s secret brother Ernest creates a threat to his own romance with Cecily. Cecily has become enchanted with the idea of Ernest—she’s romanticized him, keeps a diary about their engagement, and is drawn to the persona more than to Jack himself. If Ernest remains a real-feeling presence in Cecily’s world, she may fall in love with him instead of with Jack. So Jack wants to get rid of the brother to remove that obstacle and protect his prospect of marrying Cecily. Other motives aren’t as directly tied to the immediate complication caused by Cecily’s growing interest in Ernest, even though the situation also touches on his social plans and the broader double life.

The main idea here is that Jack’s secret brother Ernest creates a threat to his own romance with Cecily. Cecily has become enchanted with the idea of Ernest—she’s romanticized him, keeps a diary about their engagement, and is drawn to the persona more than to Jack himself. If Ernest remains a real-feeling presence in Cecily’s world, she may fall in love with him instead of with Jack. So Jack wants to get rid of the brother to remove that obstacle and protect his prospect of marrying Cecily. Other motives aren’t as directly tied to the immediate complication caused by Cecily’s growing interest in Ernest, even though the situation also touches on his social plans and the broader double life.