The meaning of the work as a whole is a satirical statement about the old Victorian English society, the pretentious, shallow/superficial, and frivolous lifestyle that has evolved past the substance life has to offer and instead dwells in a weird convoluted blend of false emotions, obsession of status, and always being polite and agreeable. The physical journeys include when Jack goes to London (where his name is Earnest) from the country, where Cecily is, he goes by Jack and when Algernon goes to the country, he is Bunbury and when he is in London he goes by Algernon. Where they takes their lives more seriously, they go by their true names. Names are of much importance in this play. They let everyone know all their family history and their status. They leave their "important" life to go else where, their no one knows them and they can purge themselves of poor unacceptable behavior and not have their names attached to those actions. Everyone performs as the people they are expected to be, not who they really are. Jack and Algernon's names represent society's influence on how they live their lives and who they should be, whereas Burnbury and Earnest represent their true selves without inhibitions or responsibilities (this is the time when true character is shown). Where ever Jack and Algernon travel to, they are only characterized further which adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. In this society, your name and facade are all that matters and to please you cannot act the way you want to, all emotions, actions, and desires are executed properly and not offensively. These displays of emotions are not real and therefore the society is not an accurate depiction of human nature. This makes the statement about society that it is all very convoluted, frivolous, too detailed-orientated to see the big picture, and unfulfilling (None of them have purpose in their life so they are making one up and raising the stakes of their "game"). An extended metaphor throughout the play is traveling on the surface of the world and living on the surface of life. Both are physical and action-orientated while missing the satisfying depth of intellectual thought and deep authentic emotions felt. The product of life without substance, displays of emotion, and legitimate connections with people, is The Importance of Being Earnest. Algernon is a symbol for this ridiculous society(his nonsensical accusations and justifications stem from the world not having to make sense because their is no understanding of it anyway). It is ironic how the society stresses education and success only for the purpose of people thinking more highly of those people, not for self embetterment. Education provides status and one's status provides the connotation of upper-class; therefore, one does not need to prove or have substance.
This is how the character's Jack and Algernon's travels add to the meaning of The Importance of Being Earnest as a whole.
