In The Importance of Being Earnest, Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble serve as comic relief and provide social commentary on the hypocrisy and absurdity of Victorian society. Miss Prism, as Cecily's governess, is portrayed as scatterbrained and fantasizes about a scandalous past. Dr. Chasuble, the local rector, is depicted as a bumbling clergyman who demonstrates a lack of moral authority. Through their exaggerated personas, both characters highlight the absurdity of the society they inhabit, adding to the comedic elements of the play.