"Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same"

Oscar Wilde's quote on bigamy and monogamy is an amusing method of mentioning the hypocrisy of society's expectations of marital relationship. Bigamy is seen as a crime, yet monogamy is seen as the ideal. Wilde is recommending that both are basically the same, as having one spouse too many is still having one better half a lot of. He is highlighting the double standards that exist in society, and how they are frequently used to marital relationship. By making this contrast, Wilde is indicating that monogamy is not necessarily the best option, which it is not always much better than bigamy. He is also recommending that society must not be so fast to judge those who select to have multiple partners. Ultimately, Wilde is challenging the conventional view of marriage and suggesting that it must not be so strictly specified.