Oscar Wilde is one of the most famous authors and playwrights of the Victorian age, renowned for his thought-provoking works of fiction. After studying at Oxford and embarking on a brief career in journalism, Wilde soon focused on writing and amusing London’s theatrical and artistic intelligentsia with his wit. He became notorious for his eccentric style and acerbic one-liners, many of which have become aphorisms memorized by millions. His first collection of fairy tales, The Happy Prince and Other Stories, was published in 1888 and went on to have a lasting influence on British and Irish culture.
Wilde attained lasting fame for his plays. The Importance of Being Earnest, a farcical comedy about mistaken identity, was first performed in 1895. Critically acclaimed for its sparkling dialogue and satire of Victorian customs, the play continues to be widely produced and enjoyed. Two other of Wilde’s comedic works, Salomé and An Ideal Husband, outlived the Victorian era in respect and admiration. His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, similarly remains widely read and studied.
When publishing his works, Wilde often utilized the pseudonym ‘Sabástião de Magalhães’ in deference to his Irish-Portuguese heritage. Additionally, his peculiar style—full of metaphor and difficult observations—earned him the admiration of writers, philosophers and intellectuals across Europe. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1890s, but his reputation devolved following Wilde’s failed libel lawsuit against the Marquess of Queensbury, as well as his criminal record for gross indecency.
Wilde’s work has been adapted into numerous radio, stage, film and television productions around the world. Much of his writing—particularly his plays—are adapted by high schools and universities for educational purposes. He continues to be the subject of biographies, critical analyses, novels, comics and even the occasional opera. There remain countless Wilde societies dedicated to preserving his legacy, particularly in Europe and the UK.
Oscar Wilde was a groundbreaking figure who left a lasting impression on English literature and culture. His wit, profound pondering and whimsical writing have had an indelible influence on the authors, playwrights and poets that followed in his footsteps.
Personal Life
Wilde’s personal life was as tumultuous as his writing career. Having married Constance Mary Lloyd in 1884 and fathered two sons, Wilde became involved with Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas, son of the Marquess of Queensbury. Wilde and Douglas were famously intimate and were ostracized from polite society upon the affair gaining public recognition. This tumultuous behavior was the source of much of Wilde’s fame and later suffering, culminating in his banishment, jailing and financial ruin in 1895.
Following his release from prison, Wilde lived out the rest of his life in exile, mostly in Francophone cities like Paris and Naples, where he wrote a series of somber and often idealized works, most notably the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol. Wilde died in Paris in 1900, aged 46.
Educational Influences
Wilde’s educational influences were shaped by the prevalent philosophies of the time: romanticism and classicism. He studied Latin, Greek, French literature and the philosophy of John Henry Newman at Trinity College Dublin. He then enrolled at the prestigious Magdalen College Oxford in 1874, where he studied the Greek poets, Latin literature and the aestheticism of Walter Pater—whose works helped to form Wilde’s own beliefs and expressed in his works.
While at Oxford, Wilde established himself as a renowned wit, and soon rose to the top of high society; his exemplary success led to him being appointed the ‘professor of aesthetics’ at the London College of Art. As an educator, Wilde’s views were disparaged by traditionalists, and most Universities of the time refused to accept his views.
Legacy
Wilde’s legacy is only amplified by his tumultuous life. His works are read and performed in theaters, universities and schools around the world, and Wilde’s writing style, iconoclastic philosophy and sparkling wit continue to shape the English language and culture for generations to come. His death marked the end of an era of flamboyant authors and playwrights who pushed the boundaries of convention—and eventually recruited the attention of law.
Today, Wilde is remembered as one of the greatest English authors of all time. His name endures with colloquialisms such as “apes and peacocks” and “the love that dare not speak its name,” and his works—such as The Picture of Dorian Gray continue to find relevance and truth with readers of all ages.
Philosophy
Wilde espoused a philosophy known as aestheticism, which held art as the sole moral compass of society and denied the moral value of science and religion. He advocated for a life lived in harmony with nature and ‘art for art’s sake’, writing that “all art is quite useless” and that it should be valued for its own beauty and whimsy. This philosophy was not widely accepted until after Wilde’s death, leading to him being subject to consistent persecution and criticism.
Wilde often used paradox as a tool of rhetorical persuasion, writing that “we should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality”—a common example of his wit and paradoxical thinking. He also wrote on political topics, particularly on Irish independence and the unjust nature of socialism.
Works
Wilde’s works are widely studied and remain popular to this day. ‘The Happy Prince and Other Stories’, published in 1888, is a collection of fairy tales still fondly recalled by adults and children alike. ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, first published in 1890 and re-issued in 1891 with an additional chapter, is a philosophical novel exploring themes of beauty, vanity and morality.
Two of his popular plays—’The Importance of Being Earnest’ and ‘An Ideal Husband’—were both debuting on the London stage in 1895, emulating the playwright’s famous wit and presenting topical themes. The 1896 play ‘Salomé’ was a more controversial work, which presented themes involving unbridled passion and prophesy.
More somber works include the 1900 poems ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’ and ‘De Profundis’, written during his time in prison and while in exile. ‘The Soul of Man under Socialism’, released in 1891, is a set of papers exploring the consequences of socialism in British society.
