 The play repeatedly mocks Victorian traditions and social customs , marriage and the pursuit of love in particular . In Victorian times earnestness was considered to be the over @-@ riding societal value , originating in religious attempts to reform the lower classes , it spread to the upper ones too throughout the century . The play 's very title , with its mocking paradox ( serious people are so because they do not see trivial comedies ) , introduces the theme , it continues in the drawing room discussion , " Yes , but you must be serious about it . I hate people who are not serious about meals . It is so shallow of them , " says Algernon in Act 1 ; allusions are quick and from multiple angles . 
 The play repeatedly <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>mocks</mark></a> Victorian traditions and social customs , marriage and the pursuit of love in particular . In Victorian times earnestness was considered to be the over @-@ riding societal value , originating in religious attempts to reform the lower classes , it spread to the upper ones too throughout the century . The play <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>very title , with its mocking paradox ( serious people <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>are</mark></a>so because they do not see trivial comedies ) , <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>introduces</mark></a> the theme , it <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>continues</mark></a> in the drawing room discussion , " Yes , but you must be serious about it . I hate people <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>are</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>not</mark></a>serious about meals . It is so shallow of them , " <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>says</mark></a> Algernon in Act 1 ; allusions <a href='drop_aux' title='10'><mark>are</mark></a>quick and from multiple angles . 
Da play repeatedly mock Victorian traditions and social customs , marriage and the pursuit of love in particular . In Victorian times earnestness was considered to b tdaover @-@ ridin societal value , originating in religious attempts to reform thdaower classes , it spread to thedaper ones too throughout the century . The play  very title , w its mocking paradox ( serious bitches so cuz they do not see trivial comedies ) , introduce the dame , it continue in the drawing room discussion , " yea , but yu must be serious about it . I hate people ain't serious about meals . It is so shallow of em , " say Algernon in Act 1 ; allusions quick and from multiple angles .