The genre of the Importance of Being Earnest have been deeply debated by scholars and critics alike who have placed the play within a wide variety of genres ranging from parody to satire . In his critique of Wilde , Foster argue that the play create a world where “ real values are inverted [ and ] , reason and unreason are interchanged " . Similarly , Wilde 's use of dialogue mock the upper classes of Victorian England lending the play a satirical tone . Reinhart further stipulate that the use of farcical humour to mock the upper classes " merit the play both as satire and as drama " .