That is nonsense. If I marry a charming girl like Gwendolen, and she is the only girl I ever saw in my life that I would marry, I certainly won't want to know Bunbury. Then your wife will. You don't seem to realize, that in married life three is company and two is none. That, my dear young friend, is the theory that the corrupt French Drama has been propounding for the last fifty years. Yes; and that the happy English home has proved in half the time.
This excerpt highlights Wilde's satirical take on the frivolities and absurdities of social conventions, particularly in the context of marriage and society’s expectations. The humorous exchange between Jack and Algernon underscores the absurdity of rigid societal norms—in this case, about fidelity, romance, and bachelorhood. Wilde cleverly examines the dichotomy between the superficial appearances maintained by the upper class and the underlying hypocrisies that govern their lives. The playful dialogue points to the paradoxical nature of societal expectations: Wilde suggests that while the French dramas promote certain negative stereotypes about relationships, the English, perhaps more pragmatically, have their own sparks of hypocrisy. The humor reveals Wilde’s critique of the pretense prevalent in Victorian society, where outward appearances often hide the complex, sometimes hypocritical, realities of individuals. Wilde’s wit enables a reflection on how societal norms can be both amusing and oppressive, often maintaining a facade that conceals deeper truths. Ultimately, the quote exposes less about marriage itself and more about the human tendency to adhere to societal narratives that may have little grounding in genuine personal happiness or integrity.
