Final answer:
The type of comedy that celebrates wit and irony, closely relates to satire, and mocks social mores is the Comedy of Manners, exemplified by the works of playwright Oscar Wilde. This genre focuses on the peculiarities of social classes, especially the aristocracy, using witty dialogue and satirical situations to critique societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of comedy that celebrates wit and irony, comes close to satire and ridicules social mores is known as the Comedy of Manners. This style of comedy typically satirizes the social classes, particularly the upper echelons, and their societal norms or 'mores,' often through the use of witty dialogue and satirical situations. Oscar Wilde is one of the most notable playwrights of Comedy of Manners, and his works such as 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan' are exemplary of this genre, which thrived in the 19th century. In his plays, Wilde meticulously crafts characters and plots that reflect and critique the absurdities of high society and its staunch observance of decorum and propriety.
While a Comedy of Manners often shares elements of satire, it stands apart by its lighter tone and its propensity to resolve conflicts with a return to social norms, albeit through a journey that holds these norms up for ridicule. This form of comedy celebrates the cleverness of language and character interaction, making it both entertaining and insightful in analyzing human social behavior