Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 16, 1854. He was born into an intellectually and artistically inclined family. His father was an eminent doctor and his mother an accomplished writer. He spent the first years of his childhood in his birthplace, then moved to London to study at the Ivy League universities there. Wilde attended Oxford, where he earned first class honors in Classics, and Cambridge, where he gained a first class honors degree in English. After graduating, Wilde devoted his energies to writing and poetry.
Wilde initially gained admiration for his writing, which was marked by a masterful wit and playfulness. His creative use of language and thorough knowledge of Greek and Latin literature allowed him to create fresh, inventive works. Wilde soon became a prominent figure in Irish and British literary circles, and his plays, such as The Importance of Being Earnest and Lady Windermere’s Fan, are widely considered his masterpieces. He was also renowned for his collections of fairy tales, such as The Happy Prince and Other Tales and A House of Pomegranates.
Wilde was a passionate advocate of aestheticism and an outspoken critic of Victorian mores, social hypocrisy and organized religion. His views on these topics resulted in him being tried for ‘gross indecency’ and imprisoned in 1895. His notoriety during this time was such that the phrase “Oscar Wilde” became a synonym for homosexuality. He died in Paris in 1900, having made a name for himself as a brilliant wit, playwright and author.
Wilde is today remembered as one of the foremost literary figures of the late-Victorian period. He is renowned for his sharp wit and masterful use of language, as well as for his passionate belief in the freedom of individual expression. His works, such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and Salomé, remain highly influential, and his pioneering attitude towards life and art continue to inspire successive generations.
The Wilde Family
The Wilde family was an affluent and artistic one. Oscar’s father, Sir William Wilde, was a prominent doctor, who had written books about his investigations into the health of Irish rural populations and had also made a name for himself as a social historian. William was married to Lady Jane Francesca Elgee, a poet who wrote under the pseudonym Speranza. The couple had three children, of which Oscar was the youngest. Oscar had two older brothers, named William and Henry, and he was notably close to Henry, who died at a young age.
The Wildes lived in Dublin until 1871, when the family relocated to London. Oscar’s education at two of the finest universities in Britain—Oxford and Cambridge—was testament to the Wildes’ wealth and intellectual standing. In addition, the Wildes were well-connected: Lady Jane enjoyed many friendships with renowned figures such as W.B. Yeats, and the family frequently hosted salons and conversations to which many of the most important figures in art and literature of the day were invited.
The Influence of Ancient Literature
Oscar Wilde’s writing was heavily influenced by the works of ancient Greek and Roman authors, such as Homer, Virgil and Ovid. He was particularly fond of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and bore a self-professed admiration for its multiple narrators. As a student of classics at Oxford, Wilde immersed himself in the works of these authors, which he drew upon to enrich his own works with powerful imagery and subtle allusions.
Indeed, from The Picture of Dorian Gray to The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde’s writing is filled with references to classical mythology. He reimagines popular myths with a contemporary twist, often alluding to the follies and absurdities of the 19th-century. His writing also celebrates the individual’s power of self-expression, manifesting itself in his vivid descriptions of characters and scenes that are as unique as they are memorable.
The Criticism of Victorian Society
Oscar Wilde could not help but outwardly voice his criticism of contemporary society. He found fault with many of the prevalent values of Victorian England, particularly those regarding sexuality, religion, and morality. As a pivotal figure of the aestheticism movement, he held true to the principles of “art for art’s sake”. He believed art should not be moralistic or didactic, yet serve as an expression of individual beauty and imagination.
Wilde continually questioned the Victorian ideals of marriage and conjugal fidelity, considering them to be restrictive and hypocritical. Through his play The Importance of Being Earnest, he mocked the provincial attitudes of the English gentry, satirizing their conceptions of propriety. He viewed organized religion as an obstacle to the acknowledgement of personal identity and the development of creativity. He often voiced his disapproval of the oppressive culture of his era, displaying the utmost confidence in his unabashedly outspoken beliefs.
The Trials and Imprisonment
In 1895, Wilde was indicted for ‘gross indecency’ in a widely publicised trial. The lengthy affair saw the playwright persecuted for his then-unacceptable homosexuality, a fact which was intentionally and tragically blown out of proportion. After an unsuccessful appeal, Wilde was sentenced to two years in prison. He served his sentence in Reading Gaol, where he was treated harshly due to the nature of his so-called “crimes”.
For Wilde, prison was a place of isolation and contemplation. During his time there he wrote his most renowned work, the poetical reflection on his sufferings De Profundis. The 50,000 words of the poem—addressed to his former lover—contain the enduring message of Wilde’s struggle for individual expression and judgement-free love.
Struggle for Posthumous Fame
Oscar Wilde did not receive immediate praise after his death in 1900. It was only after the turn of the century, when societal attitudes towards homosexuality had become more tolerant, that his works began to again be appreciated. The establishment of a permanent Oscar Wilde Memorial Sculpture in his birthplace in 1997 was one of the decisive milestones of Wilde’s posthumous recognition.
Since then, Oscar Wilde’s continued influence its clearly noticeable. The witty dialogue and intertextual references of The Importance of Being Earnest are still regularly quoted and adopted in modern adaptations of the play. Meanwhile, his writings such as The Picture of Dorian Gray are firmly ingrained in the cultural consciousness. His works remain a source of inspiration for contemporary authors and his scandals are the stuff of legendary interest.
Oscar Wilde and LGBT Rights
Oscar Wilde earned his notorious place in history after his imprisonment due to his sexual orientation. Since then, Wilde’s legacy has been demonstrated through the recognition of LGBT culture and rights. Wilde’s work, in particular his commitment to aestheticism, serves as a strong reminder of the importance of individual expression in spite of oppressive laws.
The struggle to civil rights for members of the LGBT community continues, but Wilde’s legacy reaffirms the beauty of individual identity and choice. By sharing his story, Wilde’s memory stands tall as a reminder of the need to defend individual rights and freedoms in the face of prejudice and discrimination.
The Wilde Museum
The Oscar Wilde House in Dublin is a remarkable museum dedicated to the Irish poet and playwright. Since its inauguration in 2014, the House has served as a vibrant testament to Wilde’s life and works. It offers literary and cultural events, as well as permanent displays and exhibitions that open visitors’ eyes to Wilde’s legacy.
Furthermore, the House is also a significant site for the LGBT community. It regularly hosts public programs that commemorate Wilde and LGBT rights activists past and present. By doing so, the House enables a lively exchange of ideas and faces the challenge of new generations and debates.
Wilde in Contemporary Culture
Oscar Wilde’s works remain at the forefront of popular culture. His play The Importance of Being Earnest has enjoyed multiple revivals and film adaptations, a phenomenon that is indicative of its continued relevance and appeal. Wilde has also been referenced in various works by musicians, artists, and authors, particularly those working within the LGBT community.
Wilde has been and continues to be an essential source of inspiration in the literary and artistic world. As such, his works and messages remain pertinent in a contemporary context. From the beauty of personal expression to the persisting need to defend LGBT rights, his name born in Dublin lives on.
