Oscar Wilde lived and wrote during the Victorian era, a time that was characterized by an emphasis on severe ethical standards. He became well known for his wit and humor in his poems, plays, and novel. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde did not disappoint. In this comedy and satirical drama of manners, "The Importance of Being Earnest," makes fun of everything the Victorian society seems to consider sacred and essential for life. The play is narrated in three different acts which are packed with social criticism disguised in a funny set of occurrences in which every character is portrayed the essence of the living society. The play, which was meant to criticize Victorian time, can still be perceived as a critic for the current society. Even when the Victorian epoch ended quite some time ago, there are still many issues censured by Wilde that have endured through time. Throughout the play, there are countless areas of criticism Oscar Wilde brings to light that exist in the society; however, one may maintain that The Importance of Being Earnest is a piece that intends to criticize and raise awareness essentially in themes such as ethical standards, family issues, religion, education, social expectations, and marriage. In this essay we will analyze the subject of marriage in the social order further. .
Oscar Wilde uses diverse situations to communicate the absurdity of the reality Victorian society goes through to maintain social expectations and standards. Marriage is the center of the discussion throughout the whole first act. Through the play, Wilde represents marriages as unions with no sincerity but filled with hypocrisy that individuals exploit as a system to attain status and not because fiance s truly want to share their lives together. The author humorously debates the consequences of marrying somebody without truly loving him/her. Wilde proposes that society prefers to keep standards and status rather than actually achieve pleasure and happiness in matrimony.