To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune to lose both looks like carelessness.

Summary

This quote, spoken by Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, highlights her satirical nature and comedic tone. Here, she implies that losing one parent could be seen as an unfortunate event, but losing both suggests a lack of attentiveness or negligence. Lady Bracknell's dry humor and emphasis on societal expectations subtly criticize those who are perceived as inattentive, reinforcing the play's themes of social class and brittle propriety.