The Importance of Being Earnest, written by Oscar Wilde was first performed in 1895. It is a play in which Wilde, rather than focusing on the lower classes which, was typically the norm for this era, chose to satirize the life of the English aristocracy. The most prevalent main concern of all the characters in the play is something that Wilde seemed to view as rather trivial: marriage. Wild

The other ironic part is that Gwendolen, who is Lady Bracknell’s daughter and Cecily only marry these men for their names, Ernest. For example, in the first act, Gwendolen responds to Jack Worthing’s proclamation of admiration by stating that:

… For me you have always had an irresistible fascination. Even before I met you I was far from indifferent to you. We live, as I hope you know, Mr. Worthing in an age of ideals. The fact is constantly mentioned in more expensive monthly magazines, and has reached the provincial pulpits, I am told: and my ideal has always been to love someone of the name of Ernest. There is something in that name that inspires absolute confidence. The moment Algernon first mentioned to me that he had a friend called Ernest, I knew I was destined to love you (10).

Also, Cecily believes that she is engaged to Algernon before she even met him, and states that:

These three quotes not only characterize Lady Bracknell as a stereotypical Victorian Aristocrat, by letting her arrogance and status shine through, but by also showing that status, and a proper upbringing are essential in a legitimate upstanding Victorian marriage. It is obvious that money and status are very important in selecting a suitable husband for her daughter. The element of love which typically surrounds marriage in present day seems to not even be considered in Victorian society, and Wilde discusses these elements through Lady Bracknell, and her daughter’s marriage. Not once is the question, do you love her/him asked when discussing marriage.

Also, in the opening act of the play, elements or irony are seen, when Algernon unrelenting on his criticisms of marriage, calls it “demoralizing”. Also, Algernon goes on to tell Jack that, “I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing”, and that “divorces are made in heaven” (3).

Some topics in this essay:
Lady Bracknell’s, Lady Bracknell, Oscar Wilde, Jack Worthing’s, Importance Earnest, Victorian Aristocrat, Miss Prism, Gwendolen Cecily’s, Lord Bracknell, British Empire, lady bracknell, importance earnest, lady bracknell’s, conversation lady bracknell, victorian society, aristocracy marriage, element love, victorian age, wilde’s play, institution marriage, social responsibility,