A comedy of manners is a type of comedic play or novel that focuses on the satirical depiction of social customs and behaviors. It typically features aspects of romantic comedy, such as witty dialogue and characters trying to navigate their way through complicated situations. Generally, the plot of a comedy of manners relies heavily on the conventions of the society it is set in, and the characters’ ability to conform to these conventions is often tested.

One of the best-known examples of a comedy of manners is the play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. In this play, Wilde exposes Victorian society’s strict rules and expectations for behavior by presenting a group of characters who attempt to adhere to these conventions, only to find themselves in comical situations.

One excerpt from The Importance of Being Earnest that best illustrates the features of a comedy of manners is the following:

“ It is very fashionable to be uncivil. I have never been in favor of it myself. It is very dangerous. There are a lot of people about who don’t realize that it is only a form of good breeding.” – Lady Bracknell

In this excerpt, Lady Bracknell speaks on the social conventions of etiquette and politeness that were expected in Victorian society. Her comment suggests that it was fashionable for people to be uncivil to one another, but that this was ultimately dangerous and damaging to their reputations. This satirical comment perfectly encapsulates the main feature of a comedy of manners – the way in which it exposes and mocks the hypocrisy of social customs.

Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic example of a comedy of manners, and this excerpt perfectly illustrates the feature of satire that is often found in this type of play. Satire is used to expose and criticize the superficiality and hypocrisy of certain social conventions, and Wilde’s use of satire in this excerpt is a perfect example of this.