In the excerpt from "The Importance of Being Earnest", by Oscar Wilde, the lines that satirize the Victorians tendency to place wealth above other factors in deciding whether a person is eligible for marriage is when Lady Bracknell asks Jack Worthing "What is your income?". Lady Bracknell is asking Jack Worthing some questions to know if he is suitable for her daughter Gwendolen Fairfax. One of the first questions she asks is about Worthing's income. He replies that his income is "Between seven and eight thousand a year". She continues with her questions until she is completely satisfied with what she is told.
