Less than ideal husbands and wives: Satiric and serious marriage themes in the works of Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde

Despite differences in gender, chosen genre, intended audience and comic purpose, Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde are more similar than different in their modes of subversive humor and in the themes they employ to satirize marriage. Analyzing their works allowed me to explore British marriage satire at the nineteenth century's beginning and end. Looking at Austen from a feminist perspective and relying on critical writing on drama for Wilde, I read both authors' works closely, attempting to find hidden meanings behind characters' actions. After establishing stylistic parallels, I focus on recurring themes: seduction and courtship, mercenary marriage and single mothers, concentrating on Wilde's Importance of Being Earnest, Ideal Husband, Lady Windermere's Fan, Woman of No Importance and Picture of Dorian Gray and Austen's Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Lady Susan and juvenilia.; In dissecting humorous texts to look at social critique hidden behind wit, I found that what words lose in humor, they gained in aquiring alternate meanings. The authors diverge in comic philosophy, in their view of the individual and marriage's social role. Austen criticizes certain aspects of marriage but does not denigrate marriage itself. She wishes to educate, giving examples of good marriages and people. When Wilde attacks his time's social vices and follies, he does so amorally, without attempting to educate. Despite his cynicism, he respects those who courageously retain individuality in a conformist society. Wilde thinks one should attempt self-development and self-understanding despite social strictures. Austen believes self-understanding is important only in allowing one to better judge others and be a good member of society. Her positively portrayed characters, after some comic trial and error, surrender some individual views to become integrated parts of society through marriage. Wilde's wittiest characters, (none are "positive" or "negative"), fail to conform to social strictures, even after marriage.