The play portrays the upper class in a highly interesting and realistic fashion, which enables the readers to understand the struggles the wealthy people can possess. The work of Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, begins its story in the capital of England, in the living space of Algernon Moncrieff, a young gentleman, and also in the mansion of his longtime comrade, Jack Worthing, in Hertfordshire. Wilde’s play is quite instructive and deliberate. It confirms that a lie, even the most complex, will always be revealed, and life is a very unpredictable thing, in which randomness is not an accident. The given writing illustrates the struggles and difficulties of the upper class.
The portrayal of the upper class in the play is an essential element of the story. Although wealthy individuals can be arrogant and demand respect, they can face severe challenges and difficulties due to their social status. The story brings up the topic of marriage and how the upper class can live dual lives, where the institution of marriage is an obligation and formal union. The lack of love is not relevant because they consider family background, social status, and wealth as the most crucial factors and criteria for marriage.
In addition, both characters live a highly aristocratic lifestyle, which forces them to possess a certain type of behavior. Throughout the story, there is a feeling of restraint because the surrounding people expect specific manners. Although the upper class is assumed to have freedom of choice due to their financial opportunities, the given play clearly illustrates that it is not the case. Both of the wealthy characters struggle to follow their desires and wishes without being seen as disobeying the rules and restrictions of the upper class.