How is the consumption of food used as a symbol in the play The Importance of Being Earnest?

The play The Importance of Being Earnest, written by the Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, is a trivial, sometimes called farcical, comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious characters to escape oppressive social obligations.

In this called Comedy for Serious People, performed for the first time on 14 February 1895 at St James's Theatre in London, the consumption of food used as a symbol which represents excess, or overindulgence. For instance, Algernon cannot stop eating cucumber sandwiches, or muffins when they are put in front of him, suggesting that his appetites are just as excessive as his eccentric, flamboyant, and extravagant airs.

In addition, every occasion where food is mentioned it is fraught with conflict. For example Algernon's opening discussion of wine with his servant and the girls' insults over tea. Such a fight over something as basic as food might represent another carnal desire: sex.

Some other examples of the use of food as a symbol of excess, overindulgence or sexual frustration in this play are:

" ... with Algernon about her recently widowed friend. Lady Bracknell asks for one of the cucumber sandwiches Algernon has promised her. Algernon, realizing that he has devoured every single sandwich, directs blame."

" ... insists that such a name change could be dangerous. Meanwhile, the two men squabble over muffins and teacake, until the curtain drops."