Summarize Wilde's central critique about deception in Earnest in one sentence.

• A. Deception drives romance and humor but ultimately must yield to revealed truth to restore social order
• B. Deception is a harmless trait that enriches social life
• C. Truth should never be sacrificed for entertainment
• D. The play advocates permanent deception for personal happiness

Answer: (A)

Wilde shows deception as the engine of both romance and comedy, created by Jack and Algernon to navigate strict social expectations and enjoy private freedoms. Their invented identities generate playful misunderstandings, witty reversals, and situations that skeleton-key Victorian society finds both entertaining and troubling. But the play’s move is that these playful lies cannot stand against the force of truth: when identities are revealed and genuine feelings are acknowledged, the social order is reaffirmed and the marriages proceed on honest terms. In short, deception fuels the humor and romance, yet it must yield to revealed truth to restore social harmony. The other options miss this balance: deception isn’t treated as harmless or enriching; the play does not teach that truth should never be sacrificed for entertainment, nor does it advocate permanent deception for personal happiness.