#2

  Wilde's interpretation of marriage and the journey leading up to it is very humorous.  In Act II, Cecily cardew, the ward of Mr. Jack Worthing, finally meets Mr. Worthing's imbecile of a brother, Ernest (Algernon in disguise).  Upon meeting Cecily, Algernon is caught up in a web of attraction and immediately falls in love with her.  Cecily, however has already fallen in love with the man before even meeting him; "ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was wicked and bad, you of course have formed the chief topic of conversation... And of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive...I daresay it was foolish of me, but I fell in love with you, Ernest" (Wilde 32).  Here Miss Cardew falls for a man she has never met.  In addition Cecily falls in love because he is much talked about and therefore must be attractive.  Here Wilde mocks the foolishness of people getting married.  He believes they marry only out of infatuation with the appearance.  ?They run into passion to kill their passion for the attractiveness of each person.  In the end as they get to know one another they will be awakened to the bad qualities each has just as Cecily would eventually recognize the wickedness of Ernest.  Thus marriage is a laughable institution.