The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

by Oscar Wilde

Wit, deception, cucumber sandwiches—and the absurdity of Victorian society.
In this brilliant satire, Oscar Wilde delivers a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy of manners that exposes the hypocrisy and absurd conventions of the upper class. The Importance of Being Earnest follows two friends, Jack and Algernon, who invent alter egos—both named “Ernest”—to escape social obligations and pursue romance under false pretenses.

As mistaken identities spiral out of control, Wilde weaves sharp dialogue, clever wordplay, and biting social critique into a play that is as hilarious today as it was in 1895. With unforgettable characters like Lady Bracknell and Cecily, this “trivial comedy for serious people” skewers the values of a society obsessed with appearances.

A dazzling blend of wit and satire, Wilde’s masterpiece is a timeless reminder that sometimes, being earnest is the least important thing of all.