The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious Peopleis a play byOscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at theSt James's Theatrein London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personæ to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire ofVictorian ways. Some contemporary reviews praised the play's humour and the culmination of Wilde's artistic career, while others were cautious about its lack of social messages. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped makeThe Importance of Being EarnestWilde's most enduringly popular play.