Importance of Being Earnest

So I was able to fit in reading the Importance of Being Earnest this week as I was planning to do in my self directed learning plan. Before I read, I looked up the plot synopsis and was a little confused because the plot seemed so pointless. Then I actually read the play, and I really really enjoyed it. The whole thing was just so funny! But, I didn't feel like I understood the play completely, so I discussed it with my friend Aaron, who had read the play several times and had been trying to get me to read it for a long time.
We talked about the title of the play, The Importance of Being Earnest, which, in itself, is one of the best parts of the play. The play on words of Earnest, which in this context can mean sincere, is reflective of the whole play. Everyone seems to be in so much earnest and yet at the same times, the sincerity of the whole play is questionable. Aaron pointed out the fact that Algernon spent the whole play stating that what was important was keeping up fine and sincere appearances while actual sincerity was certainly optional. I hadn't realized this when I was reading, but after having it pointed out to me, it made perfect sense and added to my comprehension of the play.
One thing that I questioned was whether this play was meant to be a satire or a parody. After thinking about it for a while, I decided that the play is most likely a satire. A parody, in the handbook, is written as an imitation of another work or author. I understand parody to have more of a purpose of mockery rather than a vast amount of social commentary. In Importance of Being Earnest, while it is certainly a mockery, it doesn't appear to be an imitation of another work that I can recall. Perhaps someone else knows, but from what I have read it seems to be fairly original. A satire, however, is apparently to have the purpose of social change; it is, according to my understanding, subversive, meaning to cry out against the norm through humor. I can definitely see this is Importance of Being Earnest. It makes the social norms of the society in which the play is set to be so utterly ridiculous that I would be surprised if everyone from that time period did not look around after realizing some of their own lives in the play and say "what are we thinking?". Truth be told, after seeing some of my own self in the play (most admittedly in the ridiculous behavior of the women regarding their own Earnests), I was motivated to reflect a little and perhaps change my behavior. Based off this personal experience, I would have to say that the Importance of Being Earnest is meant to be a satire rather than a parody.