The Importance of Being Earnest

Act 1, First Half

What conflict is already set up in the play so far?

The conflict that is already set up in the play so far revolves around the characters' double lives and deception. Both Jack and Algernon have created false identities and use these alternate personas to escape from their respective social responsibilities. This conflict sets the stage for potential misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and the potential for their deception to be uncovered, leading to their true identities being revealed.