Oscar Wilde is widely considered as one of the most renowned authors from the late 19th century, but few are aware of his personal life. Was he a devoted husband, or did he hide a secret about his sexuality?
Throughout his life, Wilde was often linked to male-male relationships, and some have suggested that he was possibly bisexual. While there is no concrete evidence of his sexuality, knowledge of his personal life provides key insights into this possibility.
Wilde was close friends with several leading figures in the Victorian era, many of whom were male. Many of these friends, such as the poet and artist Walter Sickert, were rumoured to share a romantic relationship with him. Additionally, Wilde was known for attending the Yellow Book literary club, which was known for its liberal attitudes towards sexuality.
Wilde also wrote openly about male-male relationships in his works. He wrote about homoerotic relationships in his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and his poem ‘The Sphinx’, both of which contained numerous references to male same-sex relationships.
Furthermore, Wilde had a fraught relationship with his wife, Constance Wilde. They married in 1884, even though Wilde had already begun his friendships with his male companions prior to their nuptials. There were reports of him engaging in affairs with male-male relationships at that time, and several claims have been made that he was living a double life.
All of this suggests that Wilde had some form of same-sex relationships during his lifetime, even though there is no concrete evidence to support this. However, considering his close friendships and his depiction of male-male relationships in his works, it can be concluded that Wilde was possibly bisexual.
Wilde’s Interactions with Other Men
One source of evidence that suggests that Wilde was possibly bisexual comes from his interactions with other men. Not only did he have close friendships with many of the leading figures from the period, but he was also known to openly attend parties with them and engage in activities that, at the time, were considered to be ‘unnatural’ for men.
In some cases, Wilde was even rumoured to be romantically involved with some of his close friends, such as the poet Walter Sickert. Furthermore, several claims have been made that Wilde maintained a close relationship with the Italian-American sculptor Edmund Charles Tarbell, who some believe was Wilde’s lover.
While it cannot be definitively proven that Wilde had any romantic relationships with men, the fact that he seemed to have no hesitation in maintaining close relationships with other men at the time suggests that he was entirely comfortable with his sexuality, and could have possible been bisexual.
Wilde’s Literary Works
Another source of evidence that suggests Wilde may have been bisexual comes from examining the themes of his literary works. In his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, Wilde wrote about homoerotic relationships in explicit detail, suggesting that he was not only tolerant of same-sex relationships, but may have in fact been personally familiar with them.
Furthermore, his poem ‘The Sphinx’ contained numerous references to male same-sex relationships. In the poem, he wrote about two men entwined in an embrace, and the language he used could be seen as a subtle reference to a homosexual relationship.
Wilde also wrote openly about the importance of love in other forms. He wrote about the need to accept love that is not ‘homo or hetero’, and encouraged people embrace their sexual identities. All of this can be seen as an indication that Wilde may have experienced same-sex relationships during his lifetime, and could have been bisexual.
Wilde’s Marriage
Another indication that Wilde could have been bisexual can be found in his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Constance Wilde. Reports suggest that Wilde had already begun forming his close relationships with his male companions prior to their marriage in 1884.
This could be taken as another indication that Wilde had a secret about his sexuality which he was not willing to admit. Even though there is no hard evidence to support it, it could be assumed that Wilde knew he was bisexual, but chose to hide it from Constance in order to maintain their marriage.
It is worth noting, however, that Wilde heavily praised Constance in his works, and wrote about her as a source of inspiration. He even dedicated his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ to her, which could be seen as indicative of his admiration for her. This could be another indication that Wilde was trying to compensate for his own sexuality by demonstrating his devotion to his wife.
Wilde’s View on Love
Wilde’s view on love was also an indication that he could have been bisexual. In several of his works, Wilde wrote about the importance of not restricting oneself to either a homo- or a hetero-sexual relationship, and instead emphasised the importance of love regardless of its form.
In his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, Wilde wrote about Dorian being in love with both a woman and a man, and that his love for both of them was equally valid and should be accepted. He argued that people should not be judged based on their sexual preferences, and should instead be accepted regardless of their orientation.
This could be seen as another indication that Wilde was bi-curious and that he may have had a desire to explore same-sex relationships. The fact that he openly wrote about loving relationships regardless of its form and expressed his tolerance of those who engaged in such activities could be seen as further evidence that Wilde was bi-curious, if not bisexual.
Wilde’s Actions and Words
Wilde was also known for being open about his sexuality in both his actions and words. He attended events with his male companions openly and without a care for the judgement of others. He also wrote about male-male relationships in the most explicit detail, suggesting that he was entirely comfortable talking about such matters.
Additionally, Wilde openly encouraged people to accept their sexual identity without judgement. He argued that love should be accepted regardless of its form, and would often express his support of homosexual relationships in his works. He also expressed his openness with engaging in male-male relationships, which could be taken as an indication that he was either bi-curious or bisexual.
Moreover, Wilde was known to be a radical and revolutionary figure during his lifetime. He challenged many of the conventions of the time, including those on sexuality and love. This could be taken as further indication that Wilde was open to embracing his sexual identity, and may have been either bi-curious or bisexual.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether Wilde was bisexual or not cannot be definitively proven. However, based on his actions, words and literary works, it can be argued that Wilde was most likely bi-curious, if not bisexual. This can be seen through his close relationships with men, his depictions of male-male relationships in his works and his encouragement of people to accept their sexual preferences. All of this suggests that Wilde was possibly bisexual.
