In today's society, marriage is based on love and commitment. It is not based solely on social status and money. In The Importance of Being Earnest, most of the characters did not particularly love the person they married. During the time period that this story is set, most marriages were arranged based on social status and the amount of money each person’s family had. People in those days did anything they could to be in a high social class, even if it meant marrying someone they didn't love. The two main characters in the story are Jack and Algernon. Both of these men are on the hunt for a wife. Surprisingly, they both “fall” in love with women they barely know. Jack and Algernon both claim that they love these women, but in all reality