Comedy of Manners

A comedy of manners is used to make fun of the social upper classes and their behavior which, at many times as we see in The Importance of Being Earnest, is outlandish and hypocritical.

Lady Bracknell's character and attitude towards others is a big part of why this play is a comedy of manners. She believes without doubt to be correct about things, and really doesn't leave room for anyone to make argument otherwise. When she is questioning Jack about his family and he admits to have lost his parents, rather than be sympathetic she says that he's careless. Obviously he can't control the fact that he's been an orphan since he was a baby, but Lady Bracknell overlooks that. She has a certain mindset on how things should be in life and holds very firmly to these beliefs. The stubborn, snobbish nature of the woman is bordering on unbelievable.

Another scene that's funny but at the same time shows the two-faced nature of many upper class women is when Cecily and Gwendolen meet. From the jump they claim that they'll be the best of friends despite knowing nothing about one another. However, when the news comes out that they're both engaged to marry Ernest, they turn on each other immediately. Despite making claims that they knew not to trust each other from the start, even though they agreed to be friends, when Jack and Algernon arrive at the same time and reveal the true nature of their names, the girls become friends again. The flighty nature of how they behave, allowing their emotions to overrule common sense and simply going along with what's happening at that moment displays how fickle the ladies of the time period could be.

Lastly, we have Miss Prism. In the play she's very strict and proper, and has open disdain for Jack's brother Ernest and all of the stories about his distasteful behavior in the city. Miss Prism tries to impress upon Cecily how important it is to be a lady and never misbehave. At the same time though, she's encouraging this awkward, flirting relationship with Dr. Chausuble, a man who has sworn himself to celibacy and service of the church. Not only that, but we also find out that she misplaced a baby and then fled from her actions rather than own up to it. Miss Prism acts as if she can do no wrong, and always has the right opinions of others, when in fact she isn't a saint herself.