Short Answer 
Humor serves as a tool for social critique in literature, allowing authors like Algernon to challenge societal norms while addressing serious topics in an accessible manner. In his critique of marriage, Algernon highlights its absurdities by emphasizing social obligations over genuine feelings, prompting readers to reflect critically on these conventions.
Step 1: Understand the Role of Humor
Humor is an artistic tool used to provoke laughter or amusement. In literature, it often serves a deeper purpose, including social critique. By employing humor, authors can challenge societal norms and norms through a light-hearted lens, making serious topics more accessible and thought-provoking.
Step 2: Analyze Algernon’s Perspective
In the given excerpt, Algernon uses humor to highlight the absurdities of marriage within his society. He comically critiques how marriage is dictated more by social rules and obligations rather than by genuine feelings of romance. This approach helps to illustrate the farcical nature of marital institutions in his context.
Step 3: Recognize the Purpose of Humor in Social Critique
The use of humor in Algernon’s observations serves several functions: it invites the audience to reflect on societal issues, makes the critique more palatable, and emphasizes the irony of the situation. By mocking the rigid frameworks governing marriage, he encourages readers to question the validity and significance of these social conventions.