In the early 20th century, Oscar Wilde was one of the most prominent figures in the literary world of the time. His death in 1900 led to great speculation over his sexuality, from both fans and critics. Was Oscar Wilde gay or bi? It is almost impossible to answer that question definitively, since Wilde himself never explicitly declared himself as either gay or bi.
Some academics interpret Wilde’s relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas as evidence of his bisexuality, while others use his humor and wit to suggest he had a preference for men. Much of Wilde’s work deals with themes of romance, desire and love, but this could be because he was trying to understand its complexities, rather than expressing his own feelings.
Wilde’s trial in 1895 present another example of complexity surrounding his sexuality. Wilde was charged with ‘committing offence against public morals’, which was widely interpreted as his homosexuality. Wilde’s counsel argued that the line between “homosexual” and “heterosexual” was not yet clearly defined in the Victorian period. Despite being found guilty, Wilde refused to conform to then for his own sexuality either way.
Despite the controversies, Wilde’s personal correspondence and published works suggest that he was open-minded about relationships and sexuality. In his play Salomé he wrote: “Let us not be harmed by any unreasoning prejudice”, a sentiment which expresses his progressive views of love being free from constraints from society.
Wilde was also an advocate for monogamy, although he questioned traditional ideas of marriage, as mentioned in his letter to the editor of The North American Review in 1882. In it he stated: “What is life without noble disinterested friendship? True love—divorced from any material interests—is something very rare, very beautiful, and very noble.”
All of this considered, it is difficult to conclude whether or not Wilde was gay or bi. What we can say with certainty is that his contributions to literature, his progressive views on sexuality, and his interest in understanding the complexities of love make him a unique figure in literary history.
Oscar Wilde’s Writing
Oscar Wilde’s writings are often seen as a lens into his personal life, and particularly his sexuality, since many of his plays contain references to bisexuality. His best-known work in the matter is The Picture of Dorian Gray, in which the relationships of several characters are explored including a brief marriage and a love affair between Lord Henry Wotton and Basil Hallward.
His other plays also comment on the nature of love and relationships, with references to homosexuality, such as in A Woman of No Importance, where the character of Lord Illingworth is gay. Wilde also wrote numerous poems and essays throughout his life in which he discusses love, often in a subtle manner.
His writings frequently explore the complexities of love, desire, and relationships between people, often with humour. Although these references do suggest Wilde’s personal interest in exploring the matter, it is likely also his talent for creating complex, layered characters that has led to some taking these explorations too literally.
The renowned Irish writer Brendan Behan perhaps summed up Wilde’s ambiguity best when he wrote: “He was a man who said that he hated principles, and yet he lived by one—the principle of pleasing himself”.
The Oscar Wilde Trials
Oscar Wilde’s highly publicized trials in 1895 provide further evidence of the complexity surrounding his sexuality. The trial was widely seen as a trial of his homosexuality, as it was growingly taboo in Victorian England at the time.
Wilde’s counsel argued that the line between ‘homosexual’ and ‘heterosexual’ had not yet been clearly defined, a tactic which was aimed to protect Wilde’s reputation. Despite this, he was found guilty of ‘committing offences against public morals’ and received a two-year prison sentence.
Wilde’s defence did not explicitly state that he was homosexual, however, since he never outwardly declared himself as such. He used wit and humour to address the charges against him, demonstrating how his public persona allowed him to divert attention from his potentially illegal actions.
The trial provided evidence for both sides of the argument and left Wilde’s sexuality still widely ambiguous. What the trial revealed, however, was Wilde’s unwillingness to conform to any existing sexual conventions of the time and his determination to challenge the accepted notion of what sex and relationships should look like.
Oscar Wilde and Society’s Prejudices
Oscar Wilde’s life and writing both demonstrate his progressive outlook on love and relationships. He was an advocate for monogamy, whilst questioning traditional ideas of marriage. To Wilde, love was about self-expression, free from judgment and the expectations of society. His work often explored the complexities of love, with humor and wit, in order to understand it better.
Wilde also used his wit and humor to challenge society’s judgement of him and the prejudices against him. His most famous trial, in 1895, provided an example of this, as Wilde used his witticisms to distract from the illegal topic at hand. He believed that love was an expression to be enjoyed without fear of judgement. He often wrote of the important need of individuals to form relationships and enjoy love without concern of needlessly restrictive conventions.
As a result of his refusal to conform to traditional sexual conventions, this has caused much speculation over his sexuality. It is clear, however, that Wilde was an advocate for freedom of expression, dictating that all relationships should be respected, regardless of sexual orientation.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it is impossible to determine whether Oscar Wilde was homosexual or bisexual. Despite the evidence presented by both sides, Wilde himself was never open about his sexuality and he never explicitly declared his preference. It is, however, clear from his writing, personal correspondence and public image that Wilde was an advocate of love without prejudice. His progressive views and challenging of society’s expectations make him an iconic literary figure and timely reminder to us all of the importance of freedom of expression and the right to form relationships without judgement.
