The differentiation between the upper and lower classes of society was clearly demonstrated through "The Importance of Being Earnest". In Victorian times the lower class people were out-casts, considered as nothing and often shunned by the upper class. We see an example of this when we are first introduced to Lane (the butler) and Algernon (the master of the house) when they are discussing family life. Algernon rambles on about his family while Lane listens with patience. As soon as Lane says one thing about his past Algernon won't have a bar of it. "I don't know that I am much interested in your family life Lane." Here, Algernon acts as though his family is superior to Lanes, even though he knows nothing about Lane's family. This is just a typical

The fashion of the times in Queen Victoria's day was forever changing. You had to keep up with these fashions at all times if you wanted to stay in the upper class. Waists like wasps, and brilliant wigs and hats were all part of this fashion. When Lady Brackenell was "examining" Cecily one of the first things she automatically thought of was what Cecily looked like. "We live, I regret to say, in the age of surfaces...There are distinct social possibilities in your profile." The words "social possibilities" is one of the more obvious hints in Wildes play, that everything you wore was scrutinized by society. By society I mean the people of the upper class.

In the end, Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" was a perfect, mocking portrayal of what aspects society really did have in those days. Phony marriages, bad acquaintances, money matters, gender classing, fashion and separation of the classes was all in a days work Queen Victoria and her followers.

In the 1890's the involvement of the people you socialized with, mattered greatly to your family members and other acquaintances. If you "hung" around with someone that might have been in a lower class than you, then you were seen as strange and suspicious. There was a certain fear in the air that you might go down to the lower class with them, and bring all your family and other acquaintances with you. In the play, Lady Brackenell was worried about Jack's association with his so-called "invalid friend, Bunbury". She fears that some of his bad traits will rub off on Jack and therefore make her look bad in the process. This shallow, sel

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Brackenell, Importance Earnest, Cecely Gwendolen, Miss Cardew, Earnest Victorian, Merriman Yes, Oscar Wilde's, Lane Merriman, Lanes Lane's, , upper class, importance earnest, lower class, lady brackenell, victorian times, person money, play importance earnest, women victorian, class person, oscar wilde's, merriman tells, women victorian times, money meant automatically,
Approximate Word count = 1084
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)