Answer:
In contrast to reading the scene, seeing the staged version of the scene would improve its aesthetic impact by allowing the audience to watch the actors' reactions, thereby adding to the humor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oscar Wilde's comedy play "The Importance of Being Ernest" revolves around the character of John Worthing and Algernon and the issue of class. The other themes in the play include marriage, social expectations, the ridiculousness or triviality of things deemed important, etc.
In the given excerpt from the play, we can see the scene where the two couples were 'showing affection' to their respective loves but then came Merriman and Lady Bracknell. It was then that the couples had to hurriedly stop their "public display of affection". And in contrast to reading this scene, a staged or performed version would improve the aesthetic impact as it will allow the audience to see how the actors/ characters react, adding to the humor of the whole scene.
Thus, the correct answer is the second option.