“When they entered they found, hanging upon the wall, a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was.”
(The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde)
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
Oscar Wilde was a great Irish poet and dramatist. Wilde was renowned for his dramatic portrayals of the human condition during the Victorian era in London. His short stories, plays, and poems inspired a great number of people in Victorian England.
Oscar Wilde was born on 16 October 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. His original name was Oscar Fingal O’Flaherty Wills Wilde. His mother was Jane Francesca Agnes, a famous poet and nationalist of that time. Oscar’s father was William Wilde who graduated as a doctor at the age of 28. He was a successful surgeon, by profession.
Wilde did his higher education at Trinity College, Dublin. Thereafter, he went to Magdalen College, Oxford, England, and studied there for four years. Wilde had excellent academic records. After his education, he chose London to settle. His first collection of poems was published in 1881. Wilde married Constance Mary Lloyd in 1884.
He was lauded by great personalities like George Bernard Shaw, the playwright, Walt Whitman and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poets, and the renowned critic and scholar John Ruskin. Fiction by Wilde includes The Canterville Ghost The Happy Prince and Other Tales, The Portrait of Mr. W. H. (1889), A House of Pomegranates (1891), Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime (1891), and Intentions.
His plays include Vera, or the Nihilists The Duchess of Padua, Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Florentine Tragedy, A Woman of No Importance, Salom, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest.
He was known for his comic masterpieces Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Importance of Being Earnest. In 1891, he wrote the darkly sardonic Faustian-themed The Picture of Dorian Gray. This work caused much resentment and controversy. However, he ended up being a successful writer who was known for the style and wit he employed in his books.
Therefore, even today he continues to live through his works. He continues to make us smile with his words, Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
LE PANNEAU: Analysis of poem by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde on Art and Beauty: Wilde’s perspectives on aesthetics and the nature of beauty.
Oscar Wilde Marriage and his Married life: A look into the personal life and relationships of the famous playwright.
The Critic as Artist Essay by Oscar Wilde: Wilde’s views on art criticism and its role in society.
The Sphinx Without a Secret by Oscar Wilde: A short story by Wilde revolving around mystery and societal expectations.
De Profundis: A letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment, reflecting on his life and loves.
Fairy Tales: A collection of children’s stories written by Oscar Wilde, each carrying a moral lesson.
Oscar Wilde Style of Writing: An analysis of the distinctive literary style of the famous playwright and author.
Socialism: An exploration of Oscar Wilde’s views on socialism and societal structures.
Oscar Wilde on Art and Beauty: Wilde’s perspectives on aesthetics and the nature of beauty.
Oscar Wilde Marriage and his Married life: Insights into the personal life and relationships of the playwright Oscar Wilde.
Oscar Wilde Criticism: Discussions or critiques on Oscar Wilde’s works or his life.
The Critic as Artist Essay by Oscar Wilde: Wilde’s perspectives on the role of the critic in art