References to religion in Act 2:
- Wilde uses Miss Prism and Reverend Chasuble to comment on religion and morals
- Chasuble speaks in metaphors, represents religion- religious figure in daily life
- Chasuble performs christenings without a wink of an eye, discarding importance and respect for religion
- sometimes he slips and reveals his lust for Miss Prism- absent-minded. "Were I fortunate enough to be Miss Prism's pupil, I would hang upon her lips."
- 'That is obviously the reason why the Primitive Church has not lasted up to the present day'
- 'I have preached it at harvest celebrations, christenings, confirmations' (35)
- 'surely you have been christened already?'
- 'Perfectly! Perfectly! I have two similar ceremonies at the same time.
- Chasuble as a minister/reverend is exposed to religion in his daily life. It is a highly relevant subject to him, he performs christenings etc. However, on some occasions he seems absent-minded about it and forgets his respect. These are shown in reference to Miss Prism. Wilde uses this to represent his view on Victorian religion and respectability (dull and absent).
- Christenings are not taken very seriously in this play. Jack and Algernon decide they will spontaneously have one in order to please women and obtain what they desire (a relationship). This view degrades religion/the religious service. In their case religion is not respected, their attitudes are lax.
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