Act 1 Analysis by MICHELE COLE https://padlet.com/mcole4465/p14zvclf2p66fnhb Michele Cole, Will Gannaway, Colin Miller en-us 2022-03-28 15:58:41 UTC 2026-01-14 05:55:28 UTC hello@padlet.com Satire About Marriage P1 mcole4465 https://padlet.com/mcole4465/p14zvclf2p66fnhb/wish/2117520259 ''I attribute it to the superior quality of the wine, sir. I have often observed that in married households the champagne is rarely of a first-rate brand.''

Algernon notes that this observation does not speak well of marriage. When Jack arrives, Algernon goes further in his critique of marriage. Jack explains to Algernon that he has come to town to propose to Algernon's cousin, Gwendolen. Algernon replies:


]]> 2022-03-28 16:11:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mcole4465/p14zvclf2p66fnhb/wish/2117520259 Satire About Marriage P2 mcole4465 https://padlet.com/mcole4465/p14zvclf2p66fnhb/wish/2117520810 ''I thought you had come up for pleasure. . . I call that business.''

Algernon goes on from there to argue that flirting and courtship is romantic, but marriage is not. This theme continues throughout the play, even as the characters move closer and closer to their own marriages. The point appears to be that romance leads inexorably to marriage, even if all are aware that it might not be sustained there.
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