The Importance of Being Earnest
by Oscar Wilde
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People" by Oscar Wilde is a play first performed in 1895. Two young gentlemen lead double lives, each pretending to be named Ernest to escape social duties and win the hearts of their beloveds. Filled with sharp wit and clever wordplay, the farcical comedy gently mocks Victorian society through memorable characters including the formidable Lady Bracknell. The play parodies theatrical conventions while exploring themes of identity, deception, and the absurdities of proper society.
- Comedy plays
- England
- Identity (Psychology)
- Foundlings
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #844. The Importance of Being Earnest on Wikipedia.
