1. Materialism over Character: Lady Bracknell's primary concern is not Cecily's happiness or well-being, but the financial security her inheritance brings. She declares, "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of." This statement explicitly prioritizes money over genuine human connection, a sentiment that mocks Victorian society's tendency to judge people based on their wealth.
2. Hypocrisy of Morality: Lady Bracknell claims to be "very particular" about the kind of man Cecily should marry, yet her criteria are entirely based on wealth and social standing. She dismisses the love between Cecily and Algernon because he is "not a man of means." This blatant disregard for genuine love in favor of financial stability highlights the hypocrisy of Victorian morality, where outward appearances and material wealth often trumped actual character and virtue.
3. Absurdity of Social Hierarchy: Lady Bracknell's concern over Cecily's inheritance stems from her fear of social decline. She exclaims, "To think that I should have lived to see my nephew, a man of such excellent birth, reduced to marrying a penniless girl!" This reveals the ludicrousness of Victorian social hierarchy, where a person's worth is measured by their lineage and wealth, not their inherent qualities or accomplishments.
4. Ridiculousness of Tradition: Lady Bracknell's obsession with tradition and social propriety becomes absurd. She rejects Algernon because he has no "family background" and is "unconnected." This rigid adherence to tradition over individual worth exposes the emptiness and absurdity of the Victorian social system, highlighting its reliance on arbitrary and outdated rules.
5. Focus on Appearance: Lady Bracknell's monologue emphasizes external appearances, not internal qualities. She focuses on Cecily's "position" and "connections" rather than her personality or intelligence. This obsession with superficiality mocks Victorian society's tendency to judge people based on their outward presentations rather than their true nature.
Through Lady Bracknell's monologue, Wilde cleverly reveals the hypocrisy and absurdity of Victorian society's obsession with wealth, social status, and tradition. Her character becomes a caricature of the values she embodies, making the audience laugh at their ridiculousness while also exposing their harmful impact.