How is the concept of marriage treated in The Importance of Being Ernest? What do the characters think about this institution?

The concept of marriage up until the twentieth century was considered to be prestigious and was the central aim of the English novel. Wilde uses the concept of marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest as a paradox. The characters are disinterested, some repulsed, by the concept of marriage yet it is the final goal and motivation of the play. The concept of marriage is presented in many ways. Each character presents their opinion on …

…Wilde uses this shallow opinion to draw attention to the irrelevance of a name or a position in society. The final statement of the play reflects the moral that a name is just a name, and that there is a "vital importance of being," earnest. The concept of marriage ties together some of the ideas that are presented in this play and pokes fun at the Victorians misconception of marriage. <Tab/>