Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a satire based on Victorian society in the late 1800’s. Everything about this play is a satire; from marriage to social class, and even the play’s name. Wilde criticizes these aspects of Victorian society with the use of witty puns and unusual, awkward situations.
Wilde brings to light the fact that late Victorian society cared more about a person’s name and wealth than their personality. This debases the sanctity of marriage by putting emphasis on social advancement rather than on holy matrimony. It also locks a person within the confines of his or her social class. For example, in Act One when Gwendolyn tells Jack that she is absolutely in love with