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Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet, a writer, and a playwright. He made a total of 9 plays, some of his most popular being "Lady Windermere’s Fan", "The Importance of Being Earnest", "A Woman of No Importance", and "Salomé." -
The Birth of Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland to Sir William Wilde (founder of the first eye and ear hospital in Great Britain) and Jane Francesca Elgee Wilde (a writer). He was the second of three children. -
Aesthetic Movement
The Aesthetic Movement, or Aestheticism, was an art movement in the late 19th century that valued and emphasized visual and sensual qualities of literature, music, fonts and the arts over practical and functional considerations. tate.org -
Entering Trinity College
When Wilde entered Trinity College, Dublin, he was a brilliant student and won the Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek. -
Attending Oxford
Later on at Magdalen College, University of Oxford (1874-1879), Wilde got the prestigious Newdigate Prize for his poem "Ravenna." This was also a time of conflict for him, conflict between the philosophies of Roman Catholicism and Freemasonry. He was also very conflicted between heterosexuality and homosexuality, which would chase him for most of his life -
Philosophies of Ruskin and Pater
During his time at Oxford, Wilde came under the influences of John Ruskin, a critic, writer, and professor, and Walter Pater, a critic and essayist. Their ideas on art and individualism deeply influenced his own beliefs and later on works. -
Settling in London
After earning his B.A. at Oxford, Wilde moved to London and continued writing. Two years later he published his first book, "Poems", which was met by very mixed reviews. -
Lecture Tour of the United States
Wilde went to America for some time and lectured on the "English Renaissance in Art". During his time there he also produced the play, "Vera; or the Nihilists" in New York, which was his very first play but not too successful -
Wilde Marries 26yo Constance Lloyd
Constance Mary Wilde was the wife of Oscar Wilde, and they married when he was 29 and she was 26. Constance died 2 years before Oscar in 1898 at the age of 40. They had a very strange relationship after Constance became aware of her husband's homosexual relationships, which caused Oscar to mostly live in hotels. -
Wilde's Children
Son: Cyril Wilde (born in 1885)
Son: Vyvyan Oscar Beresford Wilde (born in 1886) -
Publications
Published several essays and three books exhibiting his far-ranging interests: "Intentions", "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, and Other Stones", and "The Picture of Dorian Gray". During this time he also began his "friendship" with Lord Alfred Douglas, which would turn out disastrous later on. -
Moving to Paris
Now being a respected writer, Wilde decided to move to Paris for some time and he had continued his interest in the theatre. One evening after discussing depictions of Salome throughout history, he returned to his hotel and wrote it all down quickly in French. Rehearsals soon started, but were quickly stopped when the play was refused a license by the Lord Chamberlain since it depicted biblical characters, which was forbidden since the days of the Protestant Reformation. -
Lady Windermere's Fan
Wilde's first successful play. This four-act comedy story follows Lady Windermere, who suspects that her husband is having an affair with another woman. Although he denies it, he invites the other woman, Mrs Erlynne, to his wife's birthday ball. Angered, Lady Windermere decides to leave her husband for another lover. It is then revealed that Mrs Erlynne is her mother, who abandoned her family twenty years ago. The mother then sacrifices herself and her reputation to save her daughter's marriage. -
A Woman of No Importance
"A Woman of No Importance" is a satire play about hypocrisy and double standards of the Victorian upper classes, and it was Wilde's take on dark comedy. This play explored themes of gender equality, social hypocrisy and Victorian-era sexual mores. The story follows Gerald Arbuthnot, a young man born from single mother during a time when unmarried mothers were shameful. -
The Importance of Being Earnest
Another comedic play, this story came to be Wilde's best and last dramatic work. The story is about two carefree bachelors, Algernon and Jack, who both live double lives and find an assortment of problems along the way. The humor and witty dialogue helped make "The Importance of Being Earnest" a very popular play and has been revived several times. -
Trials
Lord Alfred Douglas’ father, the Marquess of Queensbury, became quite irritated by the public relationship Wilde and his son had, and constantly antagonized them for their actions. This caused Wilde to sue the Marquess. Wilde sues for libel, but then abandons the case. Incriminating evidence that comes to light leads to Wilde's arrest for homosexual offenses, and the sentence is two years at hard labor, most of which was spent at Reading Gaol. -
Imprisonment
In prison, Wilde spent his time reading and was even allowed to write. During his sentence, he completed his famous poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898) and wrote De Profundis, a long letter meant for Lord Alfred Douglas and of his spiritual progress to religious insight, which would be partly published in 1905 and fully in 1962. -
Salomé
"Salome" is finally performed in Paris. It's tragic story that follows Salome, the stepdaughter of Herod Antipas. Salome is fascinated by Jokanaan's holy voice, but all her attempts to attract him fail. After dancing the Dance of the Seven Veils, her step-father offers her anything as a reward. To her stepfather's dismay, she requests the head of Jokanaan on a silver platter. When the prophet's head is given, she finally kisses his lips. Herod, frightened of Salome's actions, orders to kill her. -
Releasement and Exile
After being released from prison, Wilde went by the name of Sebastian Melmoth and fled to a port on the French coast. Wilde seemed committed to restarting his life and avoiding further scandal, but still stayed in contact with Douglas. -
Developed Meningitis
After Wilde went through an ear surgery on October 10th, 1900, he developed a severe case of meningitis from which he would not recover, which was back then called "cerebral meningitis." -
Wilde's Death
Wilde died in Paris on November 30th, at the age of 46 and was received into the Catholic Church upon his deathbed. He was quite depressed in his final days and died alone. -
Impact on Society
Through his works and especially his poems, Oscar Wilde was the living embodiment of the Aesthetic Movement. His ideas on art, beauty and personal freedom formed a formidable challenge to Victorian moralism. -
References