was the way in which jack proposed to gwendolan appropriate for the time ? why or why not?

Jack's marriage proposal was not a regular part of Victorian culture. Alone with Gwendolen, Jack awkwardly and nervously proclaims his admiration. While Jack stutters and stammers, it is actually Gwendolen who takes charge of the proposal. She does share Jack's feelings but mostly because of his name. The scene is a reversal of patriarchal control of women as well as a change from the romantic tone of usual marriage propositions. It is Gwendolen not Jack who is pragmatic.