The Satire of SeriousnessThis was a play that caused controversy in the lush mansions of Victorian society. Subtitled "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People", The Importance of Being Serious jokingly criticized Victorian. morals and morals and attack the society of the rich and the luxurious. Oscar Wilde incorporated his own beliefs and ideology into the play by alluding to Victorian society “let duplicity lead to happiness”. It is this “happiness” that Wilde’s play focuses on by focusing the play’s theme on marriage. Alluding to marriage, The Importance of Being Earnest begins with the witty and selfish Algernon. It is Algernon who is the amoral bachelor and has no problem with this because he believes that "divorces are made in heaven" and is totally against marriage because he considers marriage a waste of time (118 ). The reasoning behind Algernon's views supersedes Wilde's own beliefs. The quote about marriage, of which there are several from Algernon, is quite entertaining to the reader, as the reader can see that Algernon's conclusion of marriage is absurd for that time period. However, in real life, in the 21st century, well after the Victorian era, the statement that "divorces are made in heaven" is actually quite true by today's standards. Even though Algernon clearly expresses his own views on marriage, Earnest (in town), who is actually Jack, continues to pursue his plan to propose to Gwendolyn. The reader is amused again as Earnest attempts to propose to Gwendolyn and Gwendolyn instructs Earnest how to propose. Earnest states "[They] must marry immediately." Gwendolyn, who seems surprised, responds to Earnest's statement by saying "[He] hasn't proposed yet" Gwen...... middle of paper ......at , reveals to Gwendolyn and Cecily that 'there is no Earnest and that they are not both engaged to the same man (167-168). Once again in the play, the parody of the actions of the girls who do not want to marry Jack and Algernon because their names are not serious, becomes obvious to the reader. The end of The Importance of Being Earnest is a sweet satisfaction for the reader. Jack discovers that his real name is actually Earnest, and that Gwendolyn and Jack, I mean Earnest, can finally get married. It is in the last sentence of the play that Wilde reveals the conclusion that "he now realizes... the vital importance of being serious." The play follows the seriousness of the life of upper class society and presents it as a joke. However, although the play is intended to be satirical, the reader and Earnest himself understand why it is useful to be "serious ».."