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The Birth of Oscar Wilde
Born to Jane and William Wilde in Westland Row, Dublin, Ireland -
Wilde's Childhood
His mother Jane wrote poetry and his dad William was a surgeon. His mother was a huge influence on his writing journey. Since his parents were so successful that meant that he had a very privileged childhood. -
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School life
He went to Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, Ireland. From there he went onto the Trinity College, Dublin to study classics. There he won the Berkely Gold medal for Greek. -
Oxford
He came to Oxford the day after his 20th birthday. There he was known for his academics among other things. Including this award that gave his fame a kickstart. "University’s Newdigate English Verse Prize for ‘Ravenna,’ a 332-line poem celebrating that northern Italian city’s great citizens. "
After Oxford he did not become famous right away. https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/article/when-oscar-wilde-came-oxford -
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Marriage
Wilde married Constance Lloyd. From there they had two sons named Cyril and Vyvyan. They were born in 1885 and 1886. During this time Wilde became the editor of "Women's World". In this timespan he also published "The Happy Prince and Other tales". -
Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas
"It was an affair of the heart that would span years and continents, and would ultimately lead to Wilde’s very public downfall. Douglas, the third son of the Marquess of Queensberry, was 16 years Wilde’s junior. Reportedly a dissolute, extravagant dandy, he was practically inseparable from Wilde "
https://www.biography.com/news/oscar-wilde-trials-downfall-gross-indecency -
Lady Windermere's Fan
This play was first performed on February 20 1892. It is about "in London, the play’s action is put in motion by Lady Windermere’s jealousy over her husband’s apparent interest in Mrs. Erlynne, a beautiful older woman with a mysterious past. " Wildes first plays were set mainly to be about romance versus his later plays which involved some comedy. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lady-Windermeres-Fan -
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Works
Wilde began to publish his most famous plays in this time."Lady Windermere's Fan was produced in 1892, A Woman of No Importance in 1893, and An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895."
https://www.notablebiographies.com/We-Z/Wilde-Oscar.html -
A women of no Importance
This play is about the women of the Victorian era. It manly focuses on their role and what is expected of them. -
An Ideal husband
An Ideal Husband is a comedy is is "ilde explores the serious question of the relationship between political power and personal morality. After laughing at others, Wilde taught Victorian theatregoers to turn their laughter towards themselves." https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/an-introduction-to-oscar-wildes-play-an-ideal-husband -
The Importance if Being Earnest
The play is another comedy that is his greatest dramatic achievement. In short summary it is about this gentleman who is pretending to be "Earnest" to get the women that he likes. When in reality it is his brother who is named Earnest. -
The Letter
On this date Wilde was found to be having an affair with a man named Lord Alfred Douglas. Douglas's father found out about the affair and decided to post this "Oscar Wilde: Posing Somdomite," on Wildes door. Oscar was so upset about this he decided to sue Douglas's father for Libel. -
The Trial
Following Wildes law suit his lawyers asked him if the allegations that were being held against him were true. He then responded with they were "absolutely false and groundless.”In the trail Wildes lawyer brought up a poem that would suggest his acts. He said that it was so "extravert because he was a poet." In replay Wilde was put on the stand and asked if the allegations were true in which he responded “There is no truth whatsoever in any of the allegations, no truth whatsoever.” -
The Trial part 2
This is now the second day of the trail and Wilde was questioned about his previous relationships with men. He was questioned about one particular 16 yr boy. They asked him if they had kissed and this was his repsonse “Oh, dear no. He was a peculiarly plain boy. He was, unfortunately extremely ugly. I pitied him for it,” "The same afternoon, the prosecution closed its arguments without calling Douglas to testify as planned." -
The Trial part 3 The Verdict
The next day Wildes attorney Clarke strongly urged him to drop the charges on account that they were going to bring in men who Wilde had affairs with to testify against him. That morning Clarke announced that the charges were dropped and the jury verdict was non guilty. -
Back in Court
Douglas father took Wilde back to court still uses the witnesses of the men Wilde had affairs with. Wilde faced 25 years for "counts of gross indecencies and conspiracy to commit gross indecencies. Wilde pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Numerous male witnesses testified for the prosecution, detailing their participation in sexual acts with Wilde. Most expressed shame over their actions." The jury did not reach a verdict and Wilde was released on bail. -
The FINAL court day
On May 20 Wilde was brought back into court on same charges where the jury made the decision of him being GUILTY. He was sentenced to 2 years hard labor. After the verdict was shared it was said that the courtroom erupted in voices yelling "shame". Wildes response was “And I? May I say nothing, my Lord?”. -
Life after court (Constances point of view)
"after his conviction, Wilde’s wife Constance changed her and her sons’ last name to Holland, in an effort to distance themselves from the much-discussed scandal, and moved to Switzerland where she died in 1898. The couple never divorced." -
Life after Prison
Two years after prison everything was taken away from Wilde. He went bankrupt and he was moving from his friends apartments up until the day he died. He tried to write a play about his time in prison but it never took off. Till this day he is still remembered as the funny talented man who wrote the amazing plays that we get to witness till this day. -
Death
Wilde Died of meningitis at the age of 46 in France.
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