Final answer:
Lane and Merriman, characters from Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest', are similar in their societal roles as servants but display subtle differences in personality, with Lane being worldly and cynical, and Merriman being more reserved.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Lane and Merriman serve as the butler and manservant, respectively, to the play's main characters. The dynamics of power between these servants and their masters are indicated by Lane's repeated use of "sir" (Wilde 1.1.4, 6, 8). Both Lane and Merriman are part of the Comedy of Manners, which satirizes the behavior of the aristocracy. A critical look at both characters will reveal they are similar in their function within society's hierarchy, as both are responsible for maintaining the facade of sophistication and propriety expected by their social superiors. Nonetheless, their personalities tend to differ, with Lane coming across as somewhat more worldly and cynical compared to Merriman, who seems more reserved and earnest in his duties.