Oscar Wilde

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Wilde Family home on Merrion Square

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), by Hills & Saunders, Rugby & Oxford 3 april 1876

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Oscar Wilde by Elliott & Fry 1881

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Punch - Oscar Wilde

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Oscar Wilde at Harper's Theatre, April 1882

The Modern Messiah - Keller 1882

Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and author. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress, and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the most well-known personalities of his day. He is best remembered for his plays, particularly The Importance of Being Earnest, and his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Early Life

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Sir William Wilde, a noted eye and ear surgeon, and Jane Francesca Elgee, who wrote under the pseudonym "Speranza" and was a poet and an early advocate for Irish independence. Wilde was educated at home until he was nine. He then attended Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, followed by Trinity College, Dublin, where he excelled in classics. In 1874, he was awarded a scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he first developed a reputation for his wit and aestheticism.

Literary Career

Wilde's early work consisted of poetry, and his collection Poems was published in 1881. However, he found greater success with his writing for the stage. His first popular play, Lady Windermere's Fan, opened in 1892 and was followed by A Woman of No Importance in 1893, An Ideal Husband in 1895, and The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895, his most enduring work.

Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1890 and met with a storm of controversy over its themes of moral decadence and homosexuality. Despite—or perhaps because of—its notoriety, the novel has become a classic of English literature.

Personal Life and Legal Troubles

Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884, and the couple had two sons. However, Wilde's homosexual relationships, particularly with Lord Alfred Douglas, led to his downfall. In 1895, after losing a libel case against Douglas's father, the Marquess of Queensberry, Wilde was arrested and charged with "gross indecency" under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885.

Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labor. His imprisonment was harsh and had a profound effect on his health and literary output. After his release in 1897, he lived in France under the name Sebastian Melmoth and published The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a reflection on his prison experience.

Death and Legacy

Oscar Wilde died of meningitis on 30 November 1900, in Paris, at the age of 46. Despite his financial ruin and the scandal that overshadowed his final years, Wilde's work has endured. His plays remain popular and are regularly performed, while his novel and short stories have never been out of print. Wilde is remembered not only for his literary contributions but also as a symbol of the struggle for the acceptance of homosexuality, and his life and work continue to inspire the LGBTQ+ community.

Wilde's wit and sayings have also become legendary, contributing to his status as one of the most quoted authors in the English language. His grave in Paris has become a place of pilgrimage for fans from around the world.