How does the play treat the question of moral seriousness?

• A. It treats moral seriousness as a superficial standard that is parodied by farce; serious topics are treated with comedy
• B. It treats moral seriousness as the foundation of all actions
• C. It avoids any discussion of morality
• D. It presents morality as divine truth to be obeyed

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how Wilde uses humor to undermine strict moral seriousness. The play treats serious topics—truth, duty, marriage, social propriety—as opportunities for farce, showing that what people call “moral seriousness” often masks vanity, self-interest, and performative behavior. By making characters aggressively insist on being “earnest” while engaging in deception and social manipulation, Wilde reveals the superficial, conventional nature of moral codes. The result is a comedy that exposes the absurdity of treating moral seriousness as a rigid standard rather than a lived, sometimes hypocritical performance.

That’s why this answer is the best fit: the humor and plot demonstrate that moral seriousness is parodied, with serious issues treated through comedy rather than as solemn, binding truths. The other options don’t align with the play’s approach: it isn’t presented as the foundation of all actions, nor as a complete avoidance of morality, nor as divine truth to be obeyed.