Food is the refuge of the world. Food is above all what keeps the body in good working order. Behind the scenes, food creates an industry like no other. From diners to fishermen, from bakeries to slaughterhouses, the food is known to all. Oscar Wilde draws on this universal knowledge of food to create a compelling social satire known as “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Wilde cleverly brings readers into a new world of secrecy, fantasy, and power through the need to eat. With the start of the "New Woman" era, Oscar Wilde uses food to humorously present his repressed views on women's freedom, while alluding to the struggle to be accepted in this previously unknown society. In the opening pages of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” the reader has the pleasure of participating in the preparation of cucumber sandwiches for Lady Bracknell’s arrival. The metaphor “cool as a cucumber” is of great relevance in the play. Cucumber sandwiches are a basic tea time necessity in upper class society. They are not filling enough for a meal but are expensive as a snack. So, only “cool” people usually serve them. Cucumber sandwiches are arbitrarily discussed when Algernon eats but refuses to allow Jack to have any. This event shows the competitiveness within the two male characters. Algernon devours the plate of sandwiches, proof that he is extremely stressed. When Algernon asks Jack to stop eating Gwendolen's bread and butter, marriage is brought up, hinting at Algernon's jealousy of Jack. Algernon's stress is invariably sexual frustration. As Algernon and Jack vie for power, Lady Bracknell arrives and demands her pre-ordered snack. In response,...... middle of paper ......ly penalized. By introducing specific comic characters, images, and events, Wilde creates a hilarious play that can be seen by many. By starting from the simple, carnal need for food and giving it multiple meanings, Wilde proves that he is talented. Wilde is unimpressed by society and proves this by revealing the loss of intuition, happiness and identity under the domination of women. In reality, an apple and a muffin are both food, and a man and a woman are both people. Separation is therefore necessary. Food may be what goes into your mouth, but it's the words that come out that reveal our true selves. Food is not always what it seems. Works Cited Wilde, Oscar. “The importance of being serious.” Elements of literature: fiction, poetry, drama. Ed. Robert Scholes et al. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2010. 1022-1065. Print.