Jack Worthing is in love with Gwendolen and Algernon Moncrieff is in love with Cecily. Both girls wrongly believe their men are called Ernest and they'll only marry men called Ernest. Gwendolen's mother forbids Jack to marry her daughter. Then Jack, who is Cecily's guardian, doesn't let Cecily marry Algernon. Despite all the misunderstandings, can love triumph in the end?