Oscar Wilde Activities by Kenneth Brodey ‘To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.’ Ever since its debut on February 14th, 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest has been a literary and theatrical success. The brilliance of the witty conversation never ceases to delight and entertain. However, beneath its dazzling ironic humour, there is a deep vein of social criticism of Victorian society. This intricate mix of comedy, absurdity, ambiguity and social criticism makes The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece.