The Importance of Being Earnest, a classic comedy by Oscar Wilde, was first published in 1895. Set in Victorian England, the play satirizes the social norms and values of the time, particularly those surrounding marriage, identity, and class. The plot revolves around two bachelors, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who create fictitious personas to escape societal obligations. Through witty dialogue and humorous misunderstandings, Wilde critiques the superficiality and hypocrisy of the upper class. The play is renowned for its sharp wit, clever wordplay, and lighthearted examination of the importance of appearance versus reality in society.