* The Importance of Identity and Self-Deception: The play explores the concept of identity, particularly the ways in which people create false identities to escape societal expectations or pursue personal desires. Characters like Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff engage in elaborate deceptions, revealing the superficiality of Victorian society and the importance of genuine self-expression.
* The Triviality of Upper-Class Life: Wilde satirizes the idle and frivolous nature of Victorian upper-class society. The characters are preoccupied with trivial matters like gossip, appearances, and social status, highlighting the emptiness and lack of substance in their lives.
* Love and Marriage: Love and marriage are central themes, but they are presented with a cynical and ironic twist. Characters pursue relationships based on superficial qualities and societal expectations rather than genuine love, leading to misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and comedic chaos.
* The Power of Language and Miscommunication: Language plays a crucial role in the play, creating confusion, humor, and ultimately, a resolution. Misunderstandings arise due to the characters' manipulation of language, their penchant for double meanings, and their reliance on gossip and rumors.
* Social Conventions and Hypocrisy: Wilde criticizes Victorian social conventions, exposing their hypocrisy and absurdity. The characters are bound by rigid rules and expectations, which often lead to hypocrisy and the suppression of individuality.
* The Absurdity of Victorian Morality: The play satirizes Victorian morality, highlighting its contradictions and inconsistencies. The characters' pursuit of pleasure and their disregard for societal norms expose the absurdity of conventional moral codes.
* The Importance of Being Earnest: The title itself is a play on words, referring to both earnestness and a character's invented name. The play ultimately suggests that being "earnest" is a matter of appearance rather than substance, and that true authenticity is often hidden beneath layers of social pretense.
* The Role of Gender and Class: The play explores the roles and expectations of men and women in Victorian society. Characters like Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew navigate the constraints of their gender roles, while the characters' social class influences their behavior and attitudes.