The major conflict in Act II of The Importance of Being Earnest is Jack and Algernon's discovery that they are both pretending to have a fictitious friend named Ernest in order to lead double lives. Their deceitful behavior and lies stand in each other's way as they both realize that they cannot continue their charade without the truth coming to light. Additionally, their lies complicate their relationships with Gwendolen and Cecily, who believe that they are engaged to a man named Ernest. It becomes clear that their deception is unsustainable and threatens to unravel the carefully constructed facades they have created.
