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Throughout the importance of being earnest, food is used in many ways to symbolize different aspects of society, couples, and things such as indulgence or excess, Wilde uses food to represent one's social standing in the society throughout most of the story.

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During a part in the story, it is shown that Algernon seems to not have control over his eating habits when he is unable to resist the temptations to eat the cucumber sandwiches, tea, crumpets, and muffins, this can represent an example of indulgence. Another example would be how Algernon refused to let jack have one of his many sandwiches, which can express how jack is seen in society according to Algernon.

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(Act 1) Algernon: “please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta.”
Jack: “Well, you have been eating them all the time.”

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Women were required to be modest and have a sense of propriety throughout the Victorian era.

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During this era, appearance and mannerisms was extremely important. In The importance of being earnest, Gwendalin and Cecily both believed that they were married to the same man, Ernest. Because of the standards put against them, they both decided to cause trouble in each other's lives."

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Cecily: "This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners."

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Throughout the importance of being earnest, the characters seem to make a mockery out of education, this perspective on education is mostly relied on comparing nobles and peasants.

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Lady Bracknell’s perspective on education is shown when she believes that upper-class men should be more educated than the lower-class men. Lady Bracknell believes that the lower-class men should stay uneducated because if they were to be educated, there would be a risk where the lower-class would attempt to overpower the upper-class men, her perspective is solely on social class status. Another example of a different perspective on education is miss Prism’s. Miss Prism is a member of the lower-class society, she is a governess who is known to be quite intelligent compared to those around her. A final example could be how Cecily is a member of the higher-class and she wants nothing to do with learning.

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Lady: “The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.” [p. 13]

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The majority of the characters have mixed feelings when it comes to marriage and relationships. Most believe it to be essential in life while others think of it as their duty.

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Jack is desperate to be married, while Algernoon sees it as a waste of time and he expresses how the only way to make a woman feel worthy is through sex, marriage is solely business orientated and not personal nor romantic.

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(Act 1) Algernon: "I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is
very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a
definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I
believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of
romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try
to forget the fact."

Algernoon: “The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to some one else, if she is plain.”

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In the importance of being earnest, the character Algernon’s attitude towards personal responsibility is childish and preposterous.

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Algernon creates the character Bunbury in the story, solely for the purpose pf escaping his responsibilities in social engagements and obligations in reality.

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(Act 1) “I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose.”

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Throughout the play/story, all these characters hold huge secrets and aren't honest people in any way. While telling all these countless lies, it is shown that none of the characters think twice about their lies or hold any remorse.

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Miss Prism doesn't confess to leaving Jack on the railway station when he was just an infant, and instead she hides this from everyone and lies. Jack created a fake brother and name in order to live the life he wants, and Algrrnoon uses the character Bunbury to hide from his responsibilities. This whole play is a mess because it is full of toxicity and dishonesty, which is the complete opposite of the story's title.

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Algeron: "if it wasn't for Bunbury's bad health, for instance, i wouldn't be able to dine with you.."

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Family and forming bonds with one other is important throughout The Importance of Being Earnest, while others believe it is about emphasizing the importance of family ties in society.

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Jack and Cecily are both portrayed as orphans. This being so, they aren't exactly common with social interactions and relationships. Therefore, they both create these fictional characters hoping to connect to real people. Jack creates a brother named Ernest while Cecily creates an imaginary romance with Ernest.

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(Act 1) Algernon: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility."

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In The Importance of Being Earnest, most of the characters seem to live a secret life because they are either trying to escape their reality or they are trying to create a better reality for themselves.

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Algernon creates the character Bunbury in order to escape social obligations. Jack creates the character Ernest to fake having a brother and also as a fake name for when he leaves the country, and Cecily imagines a romance between her and Ernest so she can try and form some connections.

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(Act 1) Algernon: "You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn't Ernest. It's on your cards. Here is one of them. [Taking it from case.] 'Mr. Ernest Worthing, B. 4, The
Albany.' I'll keep this as a proof that your name is Ernest if ever
you attempt to deny it to me, or to Gwendolen, or to any one else.
[Puts the card in his pocket.] "