In contrast to much theatre of the time , The Importance of Being Earnest 's light plot do not tackle serious social and political issues , something of which contemporary reviewers was wary . Though unsure of Wilde 's seriousness as a dramatist , they recognised the play 's cleverness , humour and popularity with audiences . George Bernard Shaw , for example , reviewed the play in the Saturday Review , arguing that comedy should touch as well as amuse , " I go to the theatre to be moved to laughter . " Later in a letter he said , the play , though " extremely funny " , was Wilde 's " first really heartless [ one ] " . In The World , William Archer wrote that he had enjoyed watching the play but found it to be empty of meaning , " What can a poor critic do with a play which raise no principle , whether of art or morals , create its own canons and conventions , and is nothing but an absolutely wilful expression of an irrepressibly witty personality ? "