 In contrast to much theatre of the time , The Importance of Being Earnest 's light plot does not tackle serious social and political issues , something of which contemporary reviewers were 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 raises no principle , whether of art or morals , creates its own canons and conventions , and is nothing but an absolutely wilful expression of an irrepressibly witty personality ? " 
 In <a href='negative_concord' title='1'><mark>contrast</mark></a> to much theatre of the time , The Importance of Being Earnest <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>light plot <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>does</mark></a> not tackle serious social and political issues , something of which contemporary reviewers <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> wary . Though unsure of Wilde <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>seriousness as a dramatist , they recognised the play <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>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 <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>" first really heartless [ one ] " . In The World , William Archer wrote that he <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>had</mark></a> enjoyed watching the play but found it to be empty of meaning , " What can a poor critic do with a play which <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>raises</mark></a> no principle , whether of art or morals , <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>creates</mark></a> its own canons and conventions , and <a href='negative_concord' title='11'><mark>is</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='12'><mark>nothing</mark></a> but an absolutely wilful expression of an irrepressibly witty personality ? " 
In no contrast to much theatre of da time , The Importance of Being Earnest  light plot do not tackle serious social and political issues , sumin of which contemporary reviewers was wary . tho unsure of Wilde  seriousness as a dramatist , they recognised tdaplay  cleverness , humour and popularity with audiences . George Bernard Shaw , for example , reviewed thdalay in the Saturday Review , beefin that comedy should touch as well as amuse , " I go to the theatre to be moved to laughter . " Later in a letter he said , thedaay , though " extremely funnie " , was Wilde  " first really heartless [ one ] " . In The dald , William Archer wrote dat he done enjoyed watchin the pda 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 ain't nothin but an absolutely wilful expression of an irrepressibly witty personality ? "