 While Wilde had long been famous for dialogue and his use of language , <unk> ( 1988 ) argues that he achieved a unity and mastery in Earnest that was <unk> in his other plays , except perhaps <unk> . While his earlier comedies suffer from an <unk> resulting from the thematic clash between the trivial and the serious , Earnest achieves a pitch @-@ perfect style that allows these to dissolve . There are three different registers detectable in the play . The <unk> <unk> of Jack and Algernon — established early with Algernon 's exchange with his <unk> — betrays an underlying unity despite their differing attitudes . The formidable <unk> of Lady Bracknell are as startling for her use of <unk> and <unk> extravagance as for her disconcerting opinions . In contrast , the speech of Dr. Chasuble and Miss Prism is distinguished by " <unk> precept " and " idiosyncratic diversion " . Furthermore , the play is full of <unk> and <unk> . Max Beerbohm described it as littered with " <unk> <unk> — witticisms unrelated to action or character " , of which he found half a dozen to be of the highest order . 
