The Importance of Being Earnest' (4 letters) Oscar Wilde Play is a term that refers to two of the most famous plays written by the Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde. The first is Salome, a tragedy written in French in 1891 and later translated into English. It tells the story of King Herod's stepdaughter, Salome, and her dance of the seven veils. The second is The Importance of Being Earnest, a comedy of manners written in 1895. It follows the misadventures of two young men who use the same pseudonym, Ernest, to court two women. Both plays are considered masterpieces of Wilde's work and remain popular today.