Oscar Wilde is noted for his works of fiction, satirical plays, and poetry. He was one of the most successful literary figures of the late 19th century. Despite his success, his life was troubled and ultimately ended in tragedy. Though the exact cause of Wild’s death is not known, there is evidence that his poor lifestyle and unsuccessful medical treatment contributed to it.
Wilde started exhibiting signs of poor health in the late 1890s. In 1897, he was arrested, tried, and convicted of “gross indecency” due to his homosexual affairs. As a result of this, he spent two years in Reading Jail. Upon his release, Wilde declared bankruptcy and fled to Paris. Here, he lived in poverty and had no access to proper medical care.
Leaving prison greatly weakened Wilde’s mental, emotional, and physical states. During his last decade, he was bedridden much of the time or moved around in a wheelchair, slowly becoming weaker and frailer. He was frequently hospitalized and underwent a number of medical treatments, including surgery. Unfortunately, all of these treatments were ineffective, if not harmful.
When considering why Wilde ultimately died, medical historians cite his lifestyle as a contributing factor. He continued to drink heavily, which hurt his fragile health, and there are some accounts claiming that he took opium. In addition, Wilde had experienced long-term stress and malnutrition while in prison and while living in poverty in Paris.
Wilde’s eventual cause of death is attributed to cerebral meningitis. He had exhibited symptoms that suggest this illness, such as light sensitivity, headaches, and confusion. Many believe that Wilde’s terminal illness was exacerbated by the malnutrition, poor medical care, and overall unhealthy lifestyle that he had been living.
Effects of Prison on His Health
The two years that Wilde spent in jail greatly impacted his health for the worse. The jail housed around 800 prisoners and hsad miserable sanitary conditions; the stench of the place was unbearable. In addition to the unhygenic conditions and the spread of disease, his diet was inadequate and he was denied wines and beer; he was only permitted to have food on Sunday.
His mental health also suffered greatly. During his time there, Wilde reportedly read the New Testament four times, as well as books such as Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is Within You and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. His mental and physical health may have been further weakened by the psychological trauma of living in such close quarters with dangerous criminals.
Wilde’s difficult circumstances in the prison likely contributed to his eventual death. Although the exact reasons for his death remain largely unknown, there is no question that his prison experience contributed to the physical and emotional decay that increased his risk of such a serious illness.
Effects of Poverty on His Health
After being released from prison, Wilde moved to Paris and lived in poverty. He had no money to afford medical care and he did not have a steady source of income. He depended on the charity of friends and family to pay for the rent of a single room in a shabby house in the city. It is believed that the extreme poverty he experienced in his last years likely had a detrimental effect on his health.
The lack of proper nutrition is believed to have been a major contributing factor in Wilde’s decline. Though he initially flourished in Paris due to the friends who sent him money to support his lifestyle, he quickly fell into destitution and was forced to survive on a diet of shelter-made soup and cheap wine. The lack of nutrition likely exacerbated his already compromised health.
In addition, given his weakened state, Wilde was likely unable to cope with the extreme cold of a typical Paris winter. Poor insulation and makeshift furniture in his room exposed him to drafts, which would have weakened him further. Without proper nutrition and warmth, it is no wonder that Wilde’s medical health deteriorated.
Effects of Medical Treatment on His Health
Despite Wilde’s inability to pay for proper medical attention, he was still able to seek some treatments. His friends offered some help in paying for medical visits, but he refused any serious treatments due to his financial situation. As a result, Wilde’s ailments remained untreated and his plight worsened.
Wilde underwent medical treatments in the hope of restoring his health, but these proved to be mainly ineffective. His doctors prescribed him strong medicines such as digitalis to treat his ailing heart, but this only worsened his condition. In addition, his physicians removed his tonsils and adenoids in an attempt to alleviate his persistent complaints of a sore throat and chest congestion, but this too was ineffective.
It is possible that the strong medicines prescribed to Wilde by doctors may have compounded the effects of his poor health and lifestyle. The combination of these treatments could have weakened his immune system or caused further harm to his body, leading to his eventual death.
Effects of Stress on His Health
Wilde’s psychological wellbeing may also have been an important contributing factor in his death. His scandal and trial shattered his reputation and caused him extreme emotional distress. In addition, the stress of poverty and imprisonment, lack of food and shelter, and the constant worry of being arrested again for engaging in relations with young men all likely took a toll on his psychological health.
The effect of these psychological pressures is difficult to accurately establish, but it is plausible that the stress from such events might have gradually weakened his constitution. The weakening of his psychological health may have further accelerated the deterioration of his physical health and contributed to his death.
Effects of Alcohol Consumption on His Health
Wilde’s excessive drinking habits contributed to his death. He continued to drink heavily despite his deteriorating health, and his addiction to alcohol and absinthe may have weakened his immune system even further. Chronic alcohol consumption has been shown to contribute to a variety of medical conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease, and mental illnesses.
Wilde’s indulgence in alcohol brings to light a much more serious issue: the modern fascination with drinking to excess. While the exact cause of Wilde’s death is not known, his death can be seen as a cautionary tale of the dangers of a life of excess.
Effects of Opium Use on His Health
Some accounts claim that Wilde may have used opium in his last years, although this is difficult to substantiate. Opium consumption can lead to many health issues, including malnutrition, cardiac and respitory issues, depression, and liver damage. Evidence of the damaging effects of opium use can be seen in other writers of the period, such as Thomas De Quincey and Arthur Symons.
It is therefore plausible that Wilde’s opium use, in addition to his excessive drinking, poor nutrition, and ongoing stress, may have contributed to his eventual death. There is no conclusive proof of this, however, and it remains a source of much speculation.
