Dishonesty in The Importance of Being Earnest

          In The Importance of Being Earnest humor is used a lot through epigrams. All of the characters say you shouldn't do exactly what they're doing. The always end of contradicting themselves and look foolish. In this play marriage is treated like a matter of buisness. Algernon thinks marriage is like a transaction and does not take it seriously untill he meets Cecily. Jack, however, is hopelessly devoted to Gwendolen and strongly disagrees with Algernon. Algernon later changes his mind and totally proved himself wrong. In the Victorian era the upper class looked down on working. Basically if you had a job to provide for your family, that was trashy. Religion was an interesting topic back then... People were just starting to break off of main religions, so everything got a little messy. Lady Bracknell would only allow Jack to be with Gwendolen if he was of a certain religion. To the upper class, suc as Algernon, Lady Bracknell, and Jack, the less you knew the better. Ignorance was bliss. As for Ernest/Jack his name did not do him any favors. He was the exact opposite of earnest, which means to be honest. He got himself into many "scrapes". The upper class only cared about their pleasure. To them nothing was serious.
          Oscar Wilde was trying  to say many things through this play. He used it as a device to get people to revaluate their way of life. He is trying to tell people that they are acting immature, petty, and shallow. Oscar Wilde when through a lot in his life and I think his messages are important. He shows dishnesty through Jack and Algernon's "bunburying" and them making up the name Ernest. He shows how silly it is to not work or have an education through Lady Bracknell. He also shows shallowness through Gwendolen and Cecily for not wanting to marry Algernon and Jack because their names are not Ernest. Oscar Wilde was way ahead of his time and people should have taken this play as a life lesson.