Final answer:
The main obstacle in 'The Importance of Being Earnest' is the strict social conventions and the characters' deceptive identities, with complications arising from their usage of aliases and Lady Bracknell's standards for marriage.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the main obstacle that stands between Jack, Cecily, Gwendolen, and Algernon is the strict social conventions and the characters' own deceptions regarding their identities. The plot revolves around Jack and Algernon's alias use to escape social obligations and pursue their love interests, Gwendolen and Cecily.
However, their fabrications lead to confusion and conflict when it's revealed that they have both been 'Ernest' in different contexts. The farcical nature of the play highlights the absurdity of societal norms, as true identities and relationships are masked by the characters' pretenses. The central conflict is epitomized by Lady Bracknell's stringent standards for marriage, which further complicate matters.