In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, how does the following quote demonstrate his transitioning away from the Victorian period, and...

In Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest, food symbolizes the appetite for power. Prior to this concluding scene in Act III, there are two other important “food scenes” that help elucidate the textual implications of this humorous muffin confrontation. First, in Act I, Scene I, Algernon Moncrieff has his butler prepare a tray of cucumber sandwiches and bread and butter for his afternoon tea with Lady Bracknell and her daughter, Gwendolen Fairfax. During the meeting, Algernon absentmindedly devours all of the sandwiches, and when Jack Worthing arrives to court Gwendolen, Jack devours all of the bread and butter, at which Algernon states, “You behave as if you were married to her already.” Thus, the voracious eating of food symbolizes a repressed sexual appetite, and the confrontation of the two men over the food represents their struggle for dominance over the situation.

Similarly, in Act II, Cecily and Gwendolen show passive aggressiveness towards each other over their garden tea. Cecily offers Gwendolen sugar for her tea, but Gwendolen states, “[Superciliously.] No, thank you. Sugar is not fashionable any more.” And when Cecily offers her cake or bread and butter, Gwendolen answers, “Bread and butter, please. Cake is rarely seen at the best houses nowadays.” In response to this, Cecily serves Gwendolen a large slice of cake. Thus, food in this scene represents social power, as certain items designate a particular social status.

Therefore, Wilde's commentary on Victorian ideals in the final muffin scene is an exposition of sexual and social power. During this scene, Gwendolen and Cecily leave both Algernon and Jack because the men have been deceitful. In response, both men devour the muffins, and Algernon explains that eating is the only thing that comforts him in times like these: “When I am in trouble, eating is the only thing that consoles me.” The eating of the muffins can be perceived as sexual frustration, for both women have left their potential suitors. The Victorian era witnessed a period of stringent sexual repression. Victorian manners were prudish in nature and sexual feelings were not expressed nor publicly made known. Thus, Wilde’s association of gluttony with sexual appetite moves away from traditional Victorian ideals because he brings to the forefront these sexual desires. Yet, on another level, he does so metaphorically—the eating of the muffins symbolizes this thwarted sexual appetite. So while he does explore sexuality, he does so in an insidious manner that still upholds Victorian ideals.

Also, if the muffins metaphorically symbolize the women, then the argument can be made that the women are reduced to objects or commodities—a rampant feature of the Victorian patriarchal society. During the Victorian era, women were perceived as inferior to men, and many marriages were arranged in accordance with economic gain.  Men were considered the head of the house and owned all the property at home, including women and children. The idea that the women are objects to be consumed is further supported by Algernon’s accusation of Jack: “Jack, you are at the muffins again! I wish you wouldn’t. There are only two left. [Takes them.] I told you I was particularly fond of muffins.” Here, the fact that only two muffins are left, and Algernon’s confession of being “fond of muffins,” again aligns with the notion that the muffins symbolize the two women. Thus, the confrontation between Jack and Algernon demonstrates this objectification of the women and their desire for social control over the lives of their “property”—a prominent Victorian theme.