*The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Research

The research we did on the Victorian Era really has expanded my understanding of the play in many ways. The research helps me know what life was like in back then, and how people lived their everyday lives. There wasn't a wide variety of social classes; only three: the upper class/royalty, the middle class, and the working class. Whatever social class you were born into, you usually kept your whole life. Social class was immensely essential. Typically, marriage depended on what social class you were in. In addition, the role of married women greatly contrasts from that of today.

When Lady Bracknell was "interviewing" Jack about his family and background, she was very surprised to hear that Jack was born inside a handbag in a station. Lady Bracknell then got uneasy about Jack and Gwendolen's marriage. Even though he had lots of money, she thought that since he was born inside a handbag, he wasn't truly "upper class". As well as social class, the role of women is significant to the play. The writing in the play is making the role of women seem like they have no right to state their own opinions, or have a say in whom they marry.