MODIFIED PROMPT: Oscar Wilde's opinions about Victorian England are heavily revealed in The Importance of Being Earnest. Consider the irony in the subtitle of the play: “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” Select one quote from the play and explain how the quote exemplifies the subtitle of the play.
include more commentary than quote!
***Make sure to state which character said the quote!
In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde uses the quote "I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty" as an example of the irony in the subtitle of the play, "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People." This quote is spoken by Algernon, a character who represents the triviality and superficiality of the Victorian society. Here, Algernon dismissively discusses the lack of romance in proposing, highlighting the absurdity and superficial nature of the Victorian marriage institution. Through this quote, Wilde criticizes the seriousness with which Victorian society emphasizes proposals and marriages, revealing the triviality of their concerns. By using irony and satire, Wilde exposes the superficiality and lack of genuine emotion in the Victorian era.
