Final IOBE Coursework 
AS English Literature Coursework
How far do you agree with the opinion that Wilde uses conventions of dramatic comedy in The Importance of Being Earnest to satirise and undermine the institution of marriage?
' The Importance of Being Earnest ' title suggests that there will be a main focus on seriousness in everyday life. Contrastingly, Wilde presents the audience with irony, and show us the wittiness and ridiculousness of the Victorian era .
In the Importance of Being Earnest Wilde undermines and satirises the institution of marriage through the attitudes towards courtship and marriage portrayed through different characters. One could suggest that the women and men in the play have contrasting attitude towards marriage. This is mainly shown through the character ‘Algernon’, Wilde uses Algernon in order to undermine marriage and its traditional purposes. This is evident in Act One scene 1 in which Algernon states ‘Good heavens! Is marriage so demoralizing as that?’ The use of the word 'demoralizing' is effective because Wilde is presenting marriage in the play quite negatively, marriage is being mocked here which could be portrayed as the aristocratic views towards marriage. One could argue that throughout the play Wilde uses Algernon to highlight the fact that the upper class consider wealth and status more important rather than marriage being about love and commitment. 'I don't really see anything romantic in proposing...]'. Throughout the play, Wilde mocks marriage despite the fact that it is one of the most religious conventions in society. This is contrasted by Algernon towards the end of the play as his attitude towards marriage changes and conveys a complete reversal of character as before, he believed marriage was non-exciting. The fact that he is determined to marry Cecily completely portrays the hypocrisy within the upper-class. This is clearly evident in the line 'Cecily, ever since I first looked upon your wonderful and incomparable beauty, I
How far do you agree with the opinion that Wilde uses conventions of dramatic comedy in The Importance of Being Earnest to satirise and undermine the institution of marriage?
' The Importance of Being Earnest ' title suggests that there will be a main focus on seriousness in everyday life. Contrastingly, Wilde presents the audience with irony, and show us the wittiness and ridiculousness of the Victorian era .
In the Importance of Being Earnest Wilde undermines and satirises the institution of marriage through the attitudes towards courtship and marriage portrayed through different characters. One could suggest that the women and men in the play have contrasting attitude towards marriage. This is mainly shown through the character ‘Algernon’, Wilde uses Algernon in order to undermine marriage and its traditional purposes. This is evident in Act One scene 1 in which Algernon states ‘Good heavens! Is marriage so demoralizing as that?’ The use of the word 'demoralizing' is effective because Wilde is presenting marriage in the play quite negatively, marriage is being mocked here which could be portrayed as the aristocratic views towards marriage. One could argue that throughout the play Wilde uses Algernon to highlight the fact that the upper class consider wealth and status more important rather than marriage being about love and commitment. 'I don't really see anything romantic in proposing...]'. Throughout the play, Wilde mocks marriage despite the fact that it is one of the most religious conventions in society. This is contrasted by Algernon towards the end of the play as his attitude towards marriage changes and conveys a complete reversal of character as before, he believed marriage was non-exciting. The fact that he is determined to marry Cecily completely portrays the hypocrisy within the upper-class. This is clearly evident in the line 'Cecily, ever since I first looked upon your wonderful and incomparable beauty, I