Background Information
Oscar Wilde was a 19th-century Irish poet, playwright and wit. He was celebrated for his high society lifestyle and literary genius. Wilde was arrested twice in the 1890s, first for libel and indecency and then for gross indecency with other men. The second arrest led to a wrongful conviction and two years of hard labour imprisonment in Reading Gaol. Wilde’s experiences as an incarcerated man at this prison provided the inspiration for many of his subsequent works including a poem and a play.
Cause of Imprisonment
Wilde’s imprisonment came as a result of his first trial, based on charges of libelling the Marquess of Queensberry, the father of Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The Marquess sent Wilde a card at the Albemarle Club which Wilde took as an insult and Wilde proceeded to sue the marquess for libel. The defendant’s lawyer used the trial to accuse Wilde of “[holding] an aesthetic creed which preaches conventional creeds, suggests the most licentious thoughts, and incites to the commission of the most loathsome acts”. Unknowingly, Wilde’s defence pled guilty to the charges of gross indecency, leading to his conviction for what was then considered a grave offence.
Sentencing and Time Spent in Jail
In 1895, after a two-day trial, Oscar Wilde was found guilty of the gross indecency charges and was subsequently sentenced to two years of hard labour in Reading Gaol. Wilde spent the majority of his time incarcerated in the jail, although he was temporarily transferred to Pentonville and Wandsworth prisons during the course of his sentence. In may of 1897, after serving the majority of his time, Wilde was released from jail. He was then subject to three years of licence and upon completion of his licence, he was allowed to move to Paris.
Consequential Works
Wilde’s experiences in the prison profoundly impacted his works and writings, which slowly began to reflect the writer’s emotions and repercussions due to his criminalisation and imprisonment. The visit from his fiancée, Constance performed yet another critical role in Wilde’s writings as the final volume of his prison writings included love letters that had been sent to Constance from prison as well as several other drafts. Wilde’s later works included a poem entitled ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’ and one of his most acclaimed works, ‘De Profundis’, both of which were inspired by his incarceration.
Long-Term Impact of Imprisonment
Wilde’s imprisonment and criminalisation had a major long-term impact on his life and reputation. Although Wilde and Constance got married before his sentence, Wilde was drastically ostracised and excluded from the same vibrant literary scene he had been part of before his trial. His health deteriorated and he died of meningitis three years after his release, leaving behind a powerful legacy and works that inspired later generations.
Public Sentiment
The public sentiment towards Wilde’s conviction has changed drastically over the years, particularly during the emergence of the gay rights movement. After Wilde’s release, public opinion of his imprisonment seemed to grow increasingly negative, viewing his sentence as an example of Victorian attitudes towards personal autonomy and towards a certain class of people. With the advent of the LGBTQ movement in the 20th century, Wilde’s experiences in prison were embraced by the queer community and even seen as representative of the contemporary oppression of homosexuals.
Legacy
Oscar Wilde’s prison experience is seen as a major part of his literary and cultural legacy. His writings have been discussed in academic studies, praised by Hollywood stars, and cited by national leaders. In 2009, to mark the 150th anniversary of Wilde’s birth, the British government issued a formal pardon, one of the first of its kind. Wilde’s prison experience is thought to be one of the motivations behind the British Pardon Act, which granted posthumous pardons to thousands of convicted men who were also wrongfully accused, like Wilde.
Corrective Power of Wisdom
The duality of Oscar Wilde’s incarceration, that it was both drastically wrong and the source of new and meaningful poetry, demonstrates the corrective power of wisdom. Without his prison experience, Wilde might never have channeled the pain and suffering of his incarceraation into the profound works of art on which his legacy relies. While Wilde’s experience is a cautionary tale, it also models how we can turn our hardships into creative and meaningful works.
Changing Perceptions of Prison
Oscar Wilde’s experience in prison was a catalyst for changing public perceptions of the prison system. Through his works, he was able to challenge the notions of prison as a place of punishment and retribution with a strongis advocate for prison reform and critiques of the brutal punishment of inmates. His experiences, alongside the release of several political prisoners in the 19th century, helped create the idea of reformative justice.
Effects on Society
Oscar Wilde’s criminalisation and imprisonment had a profound effect on the society in which he lived and works. His incarceration and views of justice, paralleled with the emergence of the protest and LGBTQ movements, revealed the hypocrisy and inequality of criminal justice and the public and classised nature of moral laws. Wilde’s experience, although long and challenging, led to the gradual acceptance of homosexuality, a remarkable achievement for LGBTQ+ rights in the 19th century and a testament to the power of his works.
