Oscar Wilde was one of the most iconic writers of the 19th century and his legacy lives on to this day. Yet, few people know why he was sent to prison in 1895. A closer look reveals that Wilde was sentenced for his homosexuality, something that was widely illegal in Britain at the time. In spite an act of Parliament allowing Wilde’s release in 1898, his imprisonment was an unjust punishment for being what we now consider harmless and natural.
Wilde was arrested in 1895 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was brought in due to a lawsuit filled by the Marquess of Queensberry. His accusing him of sodomy and other indecencies, after Wilde had become intimate with Queensberry’s son, Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde had a long-term partnership with Douglas that was kept secret due to the fears of being imprisoned, which eventually became a reality.
Wilde was put on trial during the following months, defending himself against the claims of indecency. Relying heavily on his celebrity status among the public, he represented himself as modest and honest, instead of falling into the trap of admitting to the charges. Wilde failed to see the imminent danger, and he was sentenced to two years in prison.
His time in prison was torturous for Wilde. During this period, he became further aware of the prevailing repression based on morality. His fellow prisoners had committed nothing more than poverty-fueled crimes, yet still suffered incarceration. To Wilde, this was simply ‘illegal and immoral’.
Wilde spent most of his time in prison reading a selection of books from the local library, some of which he would later credit as inspirations for his literary works. He also wrote a number of letters to Douglas, to whom he declared his love and used to express his anguish and resentment.
Shortly before his release, Wilde wrote his iconic work “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”, which was inspired by his time in prison. The poem tackled important issues such as what it means to be jailed, how imprisonments impacted the prison population and so forth. After his release, Wilde would continue to reflect on this experience through his subsequent works.
At the time of his release in 1895, Wilde was an acclaimed literary figure, but his reputation was tarnished for the remainder of his life. Although, Wilde is homaged to this day as an innovative writer who was unparalleled in his writing style and wit. His imprisonment sparked a discourse on the morality of imprisonments and sexuality, one which remains relevant and of importance.
The Trial
At just 44 years old, Oscar Wilde was brought to trial in 1895 after the Marquess of Queensberry filled a lawsuit for sodomy and indecency. Wilde represented himself in court against the charges, heroically, in a bid to prove his innocence to society. The court, however, was not sympathetic to Wilde’s confidence and, unfortunately, resulted in him being setenced to two years of hard labor.
Wilde found himself in a precarious situation, faced with the charged crime of homosexuality, and the impact that a public trial of this kind would have on his reputation and personal life. Despite his innocent plea, he was met with hostility, and the trial ended with him being found guilty and sent to prison.
Wilde’s celebrity status amongst the public proved beneficial, as it allowed them to view him in a positive and cultured light. While Wilde’s statement could have put him in a more perilous position, the pride associated with his character allowed him to avoid further persecution from the court.
The legal system at the time was against Wilde, and no doubt affected his plea in court. Had Wilde been acquitted, it would have been a remarkable victory for the oppressed, but unfortunately Wilde was unable to sway the court in his favor.
The trial remains an important moment in Wilde’s life, as it revealed the double standards in place in the highly charged, powerful era. Owing to this, spectators viewed Wilde with sympathy, knowing his pleas were not heard, but respected.
The Prison
After his trial, Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor in the horrific conditions of the prison system of the 19th century. During his prison time, he was separated from his family and close ties, and placed in contracted labor in the hopes that it would rehabilitate him.
The time that Wilde spent imprisoned was an experience of torture and despair. He was subjected to a range of unbearable conditions from hard manual labor to intense mental fatigue. The consequent health problems that engulfed Wilde during his imprisonment were a result of inadequate medical attention and a lack of nutrition and care for his physical wellness.
Despite the extreme mental and physical torture that Wilde endured, he consistently used the experience to produce works that portrayed the reality of the proceedings. Through his works, he tried to stand up for those unable to stand up for themselves and their rights, exposing the brutality of prisons in his work “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”.
The harsh times that Wilde experienced in prison were a reflection of the social issues of the period, including the double standards that castigated those of alternative lifestyles. His poem exposed the injustices that many prisoners were exposed to, and it worked to challenge the abuse of power of the ruling elite present in society.
Through his firsthand experience of the Victorian prison system, Wilde was ultimately able to produce works that allowed readers to see the perilous conditions of prison from his point of view. Arguably, Wilde’s time in prison gave him a chance to realise the damaging consequences that can result from repressive policies of the law.
The Release
In May 1897, Act I of the Prison Act was implemented, allowing the possibility of Wilde to gain early release. It was not until 7th February 1898, Wilde was finally released back into society, to the displeasure of some.
Wilde’s release was a colossal moment of triumph and joy which was widely celebrated by his friends and fans, showing that his famous wit still influenced the people. In contrast, the experience was equally sobering for Wilde, as the emotional pain from the injustice of prison still lingered with him.
Upon his release, Wilde’s emotional state was fragile. Owing to his time in prison, he found it hard to re-adjust to the modern world of 1898, as a large chunk of years had passed in which he had not witnessed the progress of culture. His literary works, upon this time, relied heavily on his reminiscing of prison life.
Wilde’s experience in prison did not go unrecognized, as it had a hugely beneficial outcome. Many of his poetic and artistic works, produced shortly after his release, were based on what he had experienced first hand. This allowed him to become a beacon of light, with his work winning the hearts of people around the globe, exposing the brutal and oppressive conditions of 19th century prisons.
Wilde’s transformation into being a source of inspiration, cultural and moral reference was remarkable, as it exposed the oppressors of the functioning of the law. Despite the trauma that Wilde experienced, his works provided a ray of sunshine as works of literature, garnering the respect of the public after such dark times.
Impact of Jail Sentence on Wilde’s Reputation
Wilde’s prison sentence had a profound and lasting effect on his reputation. Prior to his imprisonment, Wilde was renowned for his witty and lighthearted character. However, this attitude became difficult to maintain in light of the new shame and ignominy that Wilde was now associated with.
Between the years 1895 to 1898, Wilde’s reputation was drastically affected. He was well- known in literary circles, but the public saw him as a criminal who had promiscuous choices in life. His works of art had been known before, but they were now tainted with the label of a felon.
As a result of the detriment he had incurred, Wilde became more experienced in matters of personal morality. Owing to the repression he experienced during his imprisonment, Wilde gradually learnt to stand in opposition to oppressive policy and
societal expectation.
When Wilde was finally released from prison in 1898, his reputational image had unfortunately been ruined. Wilde was widely known as a “criminal” even though the act of sodomy was not considered a punishable crime in many other countries. Sadly, his career as an esteemed writer was now associated with the title of a lawbreaker.
In spite of such an irreparable reputational damage, Wilde slowly recreated his image and his works garnered appreciation from people all over the globe. His works became a beacon of light to many, as Wilde tackled oppressive laws and spoke for those who could not speak for themselves.
Oscar Wilde’s experience in prison draws attention to the oppression of minorities and incarcerated individuals. Although it had detrimental effects on his life, Wilde was always able to rise up and stand up for those who are systematically oppressed by law. As we are aware of how far Wilde had gone to provide a source of insight into the damaging consequences of oppressive policies, his works will remain timeless and cherished throughout years to come.
