How Oscar Wilde uses Intelligence, morality and marriage throughout the play to satirise the Victorian society.

Firstly, Wilde presents Algernon with a modern mindset towards marriage because he is sceptical about the happiness of couple in marriage, 'the very essence of marriage in uncertainty' (page 3). This quote is what I have picked out from the beginning of Act 1; when Algernon is expressing his opinions to Jack on how he feels about the whole situation of him wanting to declare his love to Gwendolen. It conveys that Algernon is not romantic at all and possesses a negative, sarcastic view on marriage- the use of 'uncertainty' suggests this to the reader. Also, the use of 'You behave as if you were married to her already' shows that Algernon often criticises the way that married couples behave towards one another by using sharp wit. His views contrast with the Victorian society, as they believed that marriage was necessary and was a way in which couples maintained or bettered their social position (was seen more as a business arrangement).
Whereas, Jack's views follow the Victorian societies concept of marriage. He obtains a totally contrasting approach to Algernon as he romanticises his proposal as much as possible, despite how the surrounding characters respond: 'I am in love with Gwendolen. I have come up to town expressly to propose to her'.
Likewise, Lady Bracknell presents her perspective on whether marriage is "business" or "pleasure" when she states, 'An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be' (page12). Even Lady Bracknell’s list of bachelors and the prepared interview to which she subjects Jack are based on a set of assumptions about the nature and purpose of marriage. These assumptions reflect the conventional preoccupations of Victorian respectability- social position, income, and