Yes, there is kissing in Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest. The moments of romance and affection between the characters Jack Worthing and Gwendolen Fairfax, as well as Algernon Moncrieff and Cecily Cardew, are pivotal to the story.
Kissing in the play symbolizes not only the love and attraction between the characters but also the playful and satirical nature of Wilde’s commentary on Victorian society. These moments are often filled with humor and irony, reflecting the social conventions of the time. For instance, the exchanges leading to kisses are often laden with wit and cleverly crafted misunderstandings, which is a hallmark of Wilde’s writing.
These interactions serve to advance the plot and highlight the characters’ complexities, making the kisses more than mere romantic gestures; they encapsulate the themes of identity and the absurdity of social norms that Wilde explores in his work.