The Importance of Being Earnest

In "The Importance of Being Earnest" satire is used almost everywhere. The institution of marriage is shown to be a 'business transaction' in that time period of the Victorian era. Especially in the upper class of society, people married for money and social security. The quality of life is said to decline after one is married. Education is made fun of (especially by Lady Bracknell) because it 'tampers with natural ignorance' and makes no impact on society. The upper social class is shown to be shallow and lazy. None of the wealthy characters work and instead spend their lives falling in love and spending their money. Religion is displayed as something of little importance and the act of getting baptised/christened is just the time when someone receives their name.

Dishonestly is twisted throughout the entire story and is the cause of conflict. Jack and Algernon are alike in the fact that they each invented someone to visit whenever they wanted to avoid responsibility. Jack invented a troublesome younger brother (Earnest) who lived in London and would go 'visit' him whenever he wished to escape to the city. Algernon invented a sick friend (Bunbury) who he would also 'visit' whenever he wished to escape dinners with his relatives. This dishonesty is used to show how the upper class did nothing but pursue their own pleasures and this provided them yet another way to do so.