Oscar Wilde is remembered as one of the great literary icons of the Victorian era. His works, such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “The Importance of Being Earnest” continue to influence literature to this day. But how did Wilde die?
Wilde had long suffered from poor physical health. He had a bad case of meningitis in 1891, and health problems continued to plague him throughout his life. He had gout and was occasionally bedridden for days with illness. His primary condition, however, was advanced cerebral meningitis, which is caused by inflammation of the brain’s membranes. This condition led to Wilde’s eventual death at the age of 46.
Wilde was a homosexual, which was a criminal offense at this time. This was one of the contributing factors that led to Wilde’s hospitalization in April of 1900. As the situation worsened, it became more and more difficult for Wilde to move around, leaving him housebound and depending upon family and friends for assistance with everyday tasks.
The disease process accelerated after he suffered an accident in 1902. Wilde was crossing a street in Paris when a vehicle backed into him. He sustained a fractured ankle and several significant injuries that greatly impaired his ability to get around. By 1904, Wilde’s condition was considerable worse, so much so that he was confined to bedrest in a rented villa in Ventimiglia.
It was during a brief stay in Paris that Wilde suffered a hemorrhage that ultimately caused his death. He was admitted to a Paris hospital the day before he died, and the official cause of death on his death certificate was cerebral meningitis. His funeral was held in Paris, and he was buried at the Cimetière de Bagneux.
Wilde’s death was greatly mourned by his friends and family. His funeral was attended by luminaries such as Andre Gide, Stephen Crane, and Frank Harris. Even though his life had been cut short, Wilde left behind a legacy of art, wit, and prose that will never be forgotten.
Early Life of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1854 to Sir William Wilde and Lady Jane Francesca Wilde. His parents were both literary figures in their own right, with his mother being a poet and his father a well-known physician. Wilde was educated at Trinity College in Dublin, where he was a classics scholar and won the Berkeley Medal for outstanding scholarship. After Trinity, Wilde attended Magdalen College in Oxford, where he received a double-first in classical studies and modern languages.
At Oxford, Wilde established himself as a prominent intellectual and had close connections with many other famous Victorian writers and thinkers. He became an active participant in the aesthetic movement, where writers and artists worked towards the goal of creating a life filled with beauty and pleasure. Wilde also developed his own reputation as a gifted writer and conversationalist, which earned him a following of devoted fans.
Wilde returned to London in the early 1880s and pursued a career in writing. He initially wrote reviews of plays, books, and art, but he soon began writing his own material. He wrote several novels, such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” as well as poetry, essays, and plays. Wilde’s works were popular and they cemented his status in literary circles.
During the late 1880s, Wilde began to decline in health due to the various ailments which had plagued him for years. He attempted to restore his health through various treatments, but to no avail. His decline culminated in the tragedy of his death in 1900.
Oscar Wilde’s Work and Influence
Oscar Wilde wrote extensively throughout his short life, producing a collection of works that are still studied and celebrated today. His novels include The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Lady Windermere’s Fan, all of which contain his trademark wit and witheld opinions on the state of the Victorian world.
Wilde also wrote several essays and stories. His most famous is The Soul of Man Under Socialism, which offers an in-depth analysis of the problems of socialism and addresses topics such as the limits of government control, personal freedom, and the dangers of state power. Wilde’s works also touch upon topics such as beauty and truth, which he sought to explore in his plays.
Wilde’s plays, such as A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest, are still widely read and performed. These plays contain sharply drawn characters and razor-sharp witty dialogue. The wit and humor of Wilde’s plays appealed to both high and low brow audiences, guaranteeing his plays’ place in the canon of Victorian literature.
Wilde’s influence on the literary world is difficult to overstate. He was a pioneer of modern literary techniques, including the use of oxymoron, paradox and epigram. He also developed his own personal aesthetic, which was heavily influenced by the work of Walter Pater. Wilde’s irreverent wit, unprecedented views, and approach to literature and literature are all present in his works.
Cause of Oscar Wilde’s Death
The official cause of Oscar Wilde’s death was cerebral meningitis. This is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain, which is caused by a variety of infectious agents. The disease can affect people of any age and can be fatal unless treated quickly and aggressively.
Wilde had suffered from a variety of illnesses for some years prior to his death, including gout and meningitis. His health had further deteriorated in 1902 when he sustained an injury in a vehicle accident, which impeded his ability to get around. In 1904, Wilde was hospitalized in Ventimiglia, Italy where he survived another year before the recurrence of his condition proved too much for his weakened frame.
Wilde’s death was deeply mourned by his family and friends, and his passing was felt throughout the literary world. He was later buried at the Cimetière de Bagneux in Paris, his city of exile.
The Legacy of Oscar Wilde
Though Oscar Wilde was unable to live a long life, leaving us at the young age of 46, his works left a lasting impression on the literary world. His novels, plays, essays and poems are still studied and appreciated, celebrated for their wit and insight.
Wilde’s work bridged the gap between high and lowbrow culture, equally appealing to artistic elites and to more mainstream audiences. His unique style provided a fresh new take on the idea of art, one that embraced the pleasure of life rather than its more somber aspects. To this day, Wilde remains a major influence on the way we think about writing and the creation of art.
Wilde was also an important pioneer in tackling the taboos of homosexuality and challenging the dominant norms of society. Though his life and work were controversial in his time, his determination to express the truth in spite of public scrutiny stands as an inspiration for those willing to brave convention in order to pursue their artistic passions.
Wilde was a complex and unique man, whose passions and aspirations can still be found in the works he left behind. His contributions to the literary world continue to be enjoyed and studied today, and his influence in shaping our thoughts on art and aesthetics still stands strong.
