According to Algernon, a Bunbury could be valuable in a marriage, what does he mean by this?

• A. It gives him an excuse to hang with the guys and have fun.
• B. It helps him become a more trustworthy husband.
• C. It ensures financial stability.
• D. It strengthens his social status.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how Bunburying serves as a convenient escape from marriage duties, giving a man a ready-made excuse to go out and have fun. In the play, Bunburying is a fictional pretext that lets Algernon vanish from social obligations and indulge in personal desires without arousing suspicion. When he says a Bunbury could be valuable in a marriage, he’s highlighting the practical payoff: a legitimate-sounding reason to leave home, escape dull domestic routine, and enjoy time with friends. That’s why the option about having an excuse to hang with the guys and have fun fits best—it directly captures the playful, escapist function Wilde is lampooning. The other ideas—becoming a more trustworthy husband, ensuring financial stability, or strengthening social status—don’t align with the satirical purpose of Bunburying, which is about clever deception and personal freedom rather than virtue, money, or climbing socially.