#3

    In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde makes light of marriage during the Victorian era. Upon realizing that her daughter has run away, Lady Bracknell travels to the Worthing country estate where she finds not only her daughter Gwendolen engaged, but also her nephew Algernon to Mr Worthing's ward, Cecily Cardew.   Lady Bracknell approves of her nephew's union and responds to it saying, "The marriage, I think had better take place quite soon... To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements.  They give people the opportunity to get to know each other, which I think is never advisable" (Wilde 48).  Lady Bracknell speaks of a Victorian ideal of marriage.  She sees matrimony not as a union in which the couple knows each other well and has grown to love each other.  To her marriage is a pragmatic arrangement to create connections between families.  To her, it is best if the couple does not know each other too well, otherwise they may find that they do not like one another and the possibility of a connection would be ruined.  In essence, Lady Bracknell views marriage as a business deal which may come to a close if not finalized quickly.  Wilde essentially laughs at Lady Bracknell's view of marriage which reflects the upper class's view of marriage during the Victorian era.  This business that is marriage may start passionate, however as the couple come to know one another their passion dies.  This was especially true for the Victorian era when men and women of the upper class often underwent arranged marriages where the couple may or may not know each other well.  Had many known one another better they may have seen Wilde's view of marriage, a mere business.