Oscar Wildes De profundis is a classic work of literature that has enthralled readers for well over a hundred years. It is a remarkable piece of writing that encapsulates the hardships and struggles endured by Wilde throughout his life. The text is highly evocative, as Wilde carefully balances his personal emotions with a philosophical exploration of life and its purpose. This advanced analysis looks at what the text reveals about Wilde’s own personal journey and the profound implications this text has had on readers over the years.
The text itself is an intimate reflection of Oscar Wilde’s time in prison, where he reflects on the consequences his lifestyle and decision making have had on his life. The emotional bitterness contained within sends a shockwave through readers and through the central character’s own mind. Wilde writes of his feelings of desperation and despair upon his situation, but also conveys a certain humour and understanding of his incarceration. This clever emotional aesthetics gives readers a greater understanding of his plight, including his sense of injustice.
De profundis is hugely philosophical, as Wilde attempts to make sense of his state by conversing with God as a concept and fishing for understanding. He also often looks to academics for clarity or an alternative philosophical approach to alleviating his suffering. This exploration of philosophical concepts provides readers with vast new ways of thinking about the human experience, including religion, morality, justice, stoicism and an exploration of mental health.
The text’s poignancy has been felt by numerous readers since its release in 1897. Edition after edition of the book has been released and its influence has been clear in the works of a range of writers, including T.S Eliot and George Orwell. There’s also evidence to suggest Wilde may have seen himself as a sort of “soul martyr”, as he experienced immense pain and its subsequent self-pity caused by the sheer anguish of his emotions.
Although the text serves to look inwards and quest for understanding, it also stands as a call to action and serves to critique the perception of criminality during the period. Through the exploration of the inexcusable behaviour of the court during Wildes’ trial, readers are made to recognise the hypocrisy of the situation and can, in many ways, relate to the punishing justice he must have felt as a direct outcome of his trial.
Political implications of De profundis
Oscar Wildes’ De profundis acts as a window into the political justice system of the Victorian era and its implications that still exists today. The text acts as a rallying cry for those who have been oppressed or have had their voices silenced by a repressive system, and for those seeking justice for the mistreated or disenfranchised. The text also serves to shed light on the excessively cruel nature of punishments like exile, and how even the remotest forms of freedom can be denied without respect to morality or context.
This powerful critique of a criminal justice system and its disrespect for humanity and agency is matched further by Wilde’s unflinching accounts of his despair and hopelessness. Here Oscar Wilde stands in solidarity with the voiceless, captives, and people subjected to cynical political games, by allowing his suffering to be read by the public, giving justice to everyone trifled by unfairness.
It is clear, on examining the novel, that Oscar Wilde could have been accused of sedition, of which the penalty could have been jail time in addition to the already extensive sentence for homosexual acts which was enforced at the time. Wilde chooses to use the descriptive detail of his experience, rather than explicitly writing of this, showing his intelligence and bravery in being able to voice these issues subtly, perhaps to protect himself from further repercussions.
Overall the text serves as both a cryo f liberty and justice for all, but also as an appetite for change within the criminal justice system and the oppressive structures of power.
The impact of De profundis on modern literature
Ocar Wildes’ De profundis has been a beacon of light for many varied works of literature and academic works created in more recent times. The influence of this classic text can be seen throughout the literary world, ranging from works of political literature to works focussing on mental health and the legacy of the Victorian era.
T.S Eliot’s work has clearly been impacted by Wildes’ portrayal of emotional suffering and the influence it has brought to a certain emptiness and burden that the protagonist must face. Eliot is quoted as saying “Wildes’ De profundis [is] the most remarkable worlds I have ever read, rather religious in its feeling”. This shows the power that Wilde had in being able to evoke emotion through literature and understanding of past political systems.
George Orwell’s 1984 is also heavily impacted by Wilde’s disapproval of authoritarianism evident in ‘De crutn in the profundis’. Whilst orwells work is explicit with regard to its condemnation of oppressive political structures, the civilised philosophy behind Wilde’s own critique is not lost on today’s readers.
The impact of Wilde’s text has also been noticed in modern academic debates on mental health, questioning the purpose of suffering and its humbling effects. The austere honesty and intellectual rigour of Wilde’s text still sparks lively debates in authorship, religion, philosophy and criminality as it did when it was first released.
The reception of De profundis
Oscar Wildes’ De profundis has been celebrated for well over a century and its reach has been far and wide. Its critique of the criminal justice system in the Victorian era had its critics at the time due to its forbidden nature as homosexuality was still seen as a criminal offence, however over time its influence has most been felt in the political works of writers and academics who seek to challenge oppressions.
The text’s descriptive language and the emotive qualities of Wildes’ inner musings make it a personal journey for many readers. The fact that the text can evoke such intensely personal emotions within its audience alone serves as testament to Wilde’s skilled writing and its power to impact change.
The poignancy of Wildes’ descriptions and its clever portraiture of the protagonists’ inner monologue encourages readers to question their own personal behaviours and the impact it has on their lives. After reading the text, readers often experience a strong residual emotion from the text, even after having finished the text some time ago.
The text is certainly not easy to digest or forget about and its impact will undoubtedly be felt for many years to come.
Oscar Wilde’s stylistic and poetic devices in De profundis
The stylistic choice of Oscar Wilde in De profundis is nothing short of masterful and his poetic approach to conveying the inner thoughts of his protagonist set the tone for how modern literature is written and how contemporary thought is presented.
Wilde’s poetic flair is evident in the way he uses language to evoke feelings of loneliness and hopelessness in the prison environment he writes of. His adroit use of metaphors, similes and imagery transport readers to the prison and gives them a vivid and tangible picture of his emotions which resonates with the audience.
The immense feeling of lost freedom which pervades the scene is highly symbolic of Wilde’s own situation and acts as a stark warning of the oppressive political systems over which Wilde is rallying his readers. This tongue in cheek way of addressing authoritarian structures is something which has tinted literature for the century since.
Lastly, Wilde uses skilful word play and wit to add an extra level to his poetry and to jest with the reader. This comedic approach makes the text highly enjoyable to read and adds another layer of complexity to the work, drawing readers in and giving his work an added level of poignancy.
Conclusion
De profundis by Oscar Wildes stands as a powerful text, one that promises highly evocative emotions, and provides an understanding of Wilde’s inner journey as he struggles in prison and attempts to make sense of his life’s meaning. Its impact has been felt for well over a century, and its reach both in academia and in the literary field have been numerous. From the socio-political implications to the intensely poetic language and symbolic imagery, Wildes De profundis is a must-read for anybody interested in progressing their understanding of the human experience and its effects on our lives.
