What are two central themes of the play?

• A. Deception/double life and satire of marriage and social norms.
• B. The tragedy of war and heroism.
• C. The dangers of technology and progress.
• D. The value of silence and introspection.

Answer: (A)

This question tests your grasp of what Wilde is really lampooning in the play. The driving threads are deception and double lives, alongside a sharp satire of marriage and social norms. Characters create and inhabit crafted identities—Jack’s Bunbury to dodge duty and Algernon’s similarly playful inventions—so appearances and appropriateness trump honesty. This mechanism lets Wilde critique how Victorian society values social signals, decorum, and reputation more than truth or genuine feeling.

At the same time, the play targets marriage as a social contract shaped by class, status, and convenience rather than romance or personal connection. Proposals are treated as strategic moves, and Lady Bracknell’s interrogations reveal a world where worth is measured by lineage and wealth. The humor often hinges on the misalignment between outward propriety and inner desire, including the running joke about names and the belief that sincere behavior follows social convention rather than honesty.

The other options don’t fit because they point to themes the play doesn’t emphasize—war and heroism, technology and progress, or quiet introspection. This work thrives on wit, farce, and social critique rather than tragedy or technical advancement.