Oscar Wilde portrays the two young women, Cecily and Gwendolen, as both similar and different in many ways. They are both smart, persistent, and in pursuit of their own goals, but they also have contrasting personalities and backgrounds. They are both independent and intelligent, but also superficial and ignorant of the reality of their situations. They are both attracted to the name Ernest, but have different expectations of their ideal husbands. They both interact with the men who woo them in a playful and assertive manner, but also show signs of vulnerability and insecurity. They both act towards one another as friends and rivals, depending on the circumstances. They both react to the revealed betrayal with anger and disappointment, but also with forgiveness and reconciliation.
One of the similarities between Cecily and Gwendolen is their independence and intelligence. They both take the initiative in pursuing their love interests, and do not let their guardians or social norms stop them. Cecily arranges for Algernon to stay at her country house, and even invents a fictitious engagement with him in her diary. Gwendolen follows Jack to the country, and defies her mother's disapproval of their relationship. They both also display wit and cleverness in their dialogues, especially when they confront each other over the name Ernest. For example, Cecily says, "I pity any woman who is married to a man called John. He would probably never be allowed to know the entrancing pleasure of a single moment's solitude." Gwendolen replies, "The only really safe name is Ernest."
However, Cecily and Gwendolen also have some differences in their personalities and backgrounds. Cecily is more naive and romantic, while Gwendolen is more worldly and cynical. Cecily lives in a sheltered and natural environment, while Gwendolen lives in a sophisticated and artificial society. Cecily has a guardian, Jack, who is more lenient and affectionate, while Gwendolen has a mother, Lady Bracknell, who is more strict and domineering. Cecily is fascinated by the idea of a wicked and adventurous man, while Gwendolen is obsessed with the name and appearance of a respectable and earnest man.
Another similarity between Cecily and Gwendolen is their superficiality and ignorance. They both value style over substance, and are easily deceived by the men who woo them. They both fall in love with the name Ernest, without knowing the true identity or character of their suitors. They both also have unrealistic and contradictory expectations of their ideal husbands. Cecily wants a wicked man who can be reformed, while Gwendolen wants an earnest man who can be wicked. They both also ignore the fact that their relationships are based on lies and misunderstandings.