Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet and novelist, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of his time. Born in Dublin to a middle-class Protestant family in 1854, he received a brilliant education, attending Trinity College and later Oxford University. However, while his success and talent eventually resulted in him becoming a renowned and respected writer, he was never particularly wealthy.
Wilde’s financial situation was complicated by his tendency to spend extravagantly, and it became markedly worse following the aristocratic scandals he was involved in. Through an unfortunate set of circumstances, Wilde accrued significant legal expenses and ultimately, he was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1895. From then onwards, Wilde had to rely on his friends for money, and he was even reduced to selling his possessions on the black market.
When Wilde was released from prison after serving his sentence in 1897, his financial situation had not improved. He was in dire need of money, and took to touring Europe and delivering lectures in order to make a living. He lived in poverty during this period and rarely spoke of his own financial condition, often relying on his friends and family to borrow money.
Sadly, Wilde’s financial situation never really recovered, and upon his death in 1900, his estate was valued at under £695. Although Wilde is thought to have achieved considerable success in his lifetime, financially he remained in relative poverty right up until his death.
Wilde’s Expenditure Patterns
Wilde’s financial woes have been attributed in part to his lifestyle. During the time of his financial success, he was accustomed to living extravagantly and enjoyed spending money on rare manuscripts and artifacts. He also had a penchant for expensive clothing and luxurious gifts, even amidst challenging economic conditions of the time. The expensive items he bought did not always serve him well, as his possessions were often seized by creditors when his debts became unbearable.
Not surprisingly, Wilde’s lavish spending habits were frowned upon by his better-off peers. The aristocratic community found his profligacy to be distasteful and distanced themselves from him, leading to the legal entanglements and financial difficulties he experienced.
Frugality was certainly not his strong suit, and while it is too late to advise him to adopt a more parsimonious lifestyle, it is clear that doing so would have been the wisest course of action. Despite the considerable wealth and fame he achieved in his lifetime, in the end, Wilde was never able to free himself from his financial worries.
Wilde’s Legacy
In spite of his financial troubles, Wilde’s legacy remains strong. His works stand as a testament to his creativity and innovation, and to this day, his plays, poems and other writings are still highly esteemed by his peers. His writing style has been praised for its wittiness and insightful observations of class and human nature.
While Wilde will never be remembered as a wealthy man, the impact of his contributions to literature is undeniable and cannot be measured in monetary terms. He has bequeathed to the world an extraordinary body of work, which continues to be enjoyed and studied by generations of lovers of literature.
Wilde’s Financial Struggles
Given his remarkable gifts, it is a great shame that financial hardship plagued Wilde for much of his life. Despite the considerable income he earned from his writings, he was never able to save enough money to be free from worry. And, unfortunately, his own sense of extravagance and flamboyance contributed to his financial downfall.
It can only be imagined what Wilde might have achieved had his financial worries been alleviated. It is tragic that his late-in-life successes and acclamation did not bring him the financial freedom they surely deserved.
Wilde’s Difficult Childhood
Wilde’s financial struggles were compounded by a difficult childhood. His parents, though middle-class and successful, raised him in a strict and pious manner. Though Wilde chose to rebel against their religious orthodoxy and embrace the discourse of beauty and art, his upbringing in this environment undoubtedly had a lasting impact on him.
He remained estranged from his family for much of his life, and never received the financial help they could have provided him. Despite his fame and success upon leaving Ireland, Wilde’s childhood experiences undoubtedly played a large part in his financial uncertainty.
Wilde’s Lifestyle
While Wilde’s spending habits, in large part, are to blame for his financial struggles, his lifestyle and extravagance were also responsible for his downfall. His flamboyant personality and love for fine things not only caused him to spend more than he had, but also earned him the displeasure of his aristocratic peers.
This alienated the aristocracy from him, leading to his difficult legal situation. Without their support and monetary assistance, Wilde’s financial struggles likely would have become much more pronounced. By the end of his life, Wilde had incurred significant debt, and was forced to rely solely on his friends and family for financial help.
Wilde’s Late-In-Life Struggles
Before his death, Wilde was able to realize some success in his writing career and secure some measure of respect and admiration. However, though this was likely a great source of satisfaction for him, it did little to improve his financial situation. Despite his late-in-life successes, Wilde was still in desperate need of money and had to rely on the generosity of his friends.
Sadly, Wilde was never able to free himself from his financial worries and on his death, his estate was worth less than £695. Despite his triumphs in life, Wilde perished with the burden of poverty still weighing on him.
