The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, first performed in 1895, is a comedic play that satirizes the conventions and manners of Victorian society. The subtitle of the play, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, aptly captures Wilde’s tongue-in-cheek take on the cultural milieu to which he was subject. Set in England during the late 19th century, the play follows the lives of two young men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who adopt fictional identities to escape social obligations. Jack invents a brother named Ernest, while Algernon creates an invalid friend named Bunbury. The plot unfolds with mistaken identities, clever wordplay, and humorous social commentary.