The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy of manners used to parody the social aspects of a Victorian society. Wilde does this by incorporating slapstick elements that would seem ridiculous to the audience and satirizes Victorian social norms and values. Wilde also subverts the ideals of marriage by undermining the concept as a whole while simultaneously reversing traditional gender and class roles in society. Wilde included serious and controversial topics such as the influence of religion, implying that Wilde's play is not a play but a serious criticism of Victorian society. However, Wilde presents these ideas in a fun and lighthearted way through the use of farce and satire. For this reason, it can be argued that Earnest reflects the idea that "comedy is a game played to cast reflections on social life." Wilde reverses gender roles in Victorian society to show reflections on social life, particularly with Lady Bracknell. , which embodies the British Victorian aristocracy. It is through Lady Bracknell that the reversal of gender roles is highlighted as she is arguably the most dominant figure in the play gaining the most authority over every other character. It is clear from Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell's comments that Lord Bracknell, who remains absent in the play, appears to be passive in the female-oriented household. Gwendolen observes that her father is "quite unknown" outside their family circle and reflects, "home seems to me to be the proper sphere for man" and speaks of a man's "domestic duties". This is a comic reversal of the stereotypical Victorian expectation that a woman's role was in the home. Furthermore, Lady Bracknell interviews Jack about his Victorian morality by centering the play on the wedding, which is probably supposed to be a serious religious ceremony, yet Wilde describes it as a trivial affair, suggesting that he viewed marriage, or the way people treated it, in a Victorian society as a joke. Furthermore, Wilde uses Lady Bracknell's haughty comments to create elements of a satirical comedy that parodies upper-class society in the Victorian era. Wilde also uses reversals and subversions of gender roles in society to challenge the social order. Through this Wilde exposes the upper class and their morals regarding social issues, so it can be said that the purpose of Wilde's comedy was to educate the people of Victorian society and question their social norms and values. Works Cited The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar WildeComedian Devices in the Importance of Being Serious