Oscar Wilde: Life, Works, and Aesthetic Philosophy

Oscar Wilde: A Literary Icon of the Victorian Era

Oscar Wilde's Early Life

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1854.

Academic Journey

He attended Trinity College and earned a degree from Oxford University.

Personal Life and Controversies

In 1883, he married Constance Lloyd, who bore him two children. However, he soon grew tired of his marriage. In 1891, he met Lord Alfred Douglas, with whom he had a homosexual relationship, leading to Wilde's imprisonment for homosexual offences.

Philosophical Influences and Aestheticism

Wilde was a disciple of Walter Pater and embraced the theory of Art for Art's Sake. He believed that only Art, as the cult of Beauty, could prevent the murder of the soul.

Public Persona in London

Settling in London, Wilde became a fashionable figure, renowned for his wit and distinctive style of dressing.

The Dandy and Rebel Archetypes

Wilde embodied the dual roles of rebel and dandy.

• The Rebel criticized Victorian society.
• The Dandy is an aristocrat whose elegance symbolizes the superiority of his spirit; he uses his wit to shock and is an individualist who demands absolute freedom.
• The bohemian, by contrast, is an artist who allies himself with the masses and the urban proletariat, leading an unconventional existence, pursuing sensation and excess while cultivating art and beauty.

Characteristics of the Decadent Artist

The decadent artist distances himself from both the middle class and the general populace. He despises the hypocrisy of the middle class and the vulgarity of the masses. He rejects modern societal values (money and business) and champions the cult of beauty as the supreme value in art and life. He did not pursue any moral aim with his novels or social responsibility. He maintained an unconventional and scandalous demeanor, enjoying beautiful clothes, engaging conversation, delicious food, and handsome young men.

Major Literary Works

Wilde wrote a series of short stories, including:

• The Happy Prince and Other Tales
• A House of Pomegranates

His notable novel is:

• The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891)

And his acclaimed dramas include:

• Salomé
• Lady Windermere's Fan
• A Woman of No Importance
• An Ideal Husband
• The Importance of Being Earnest

Synopsis: The Picture of Dorian Gray

The artist Basil Hallward decides to paint Dorian Gray. While being painted, Dorian wishes for eternal youth, so the signs of age, experience, and vice appear only in the portrait. The picture represents the spirit of societal corruption. When the painter sees the corrupted image of the portrait, Dorian kills him. Later, Dorian attempts to free himself of the portrait but mysteriously kills himself, and the picture returns to its original purity.

Final Years and Death

Upon his release from prison, Wilde was a broken man. He went into exile in France, where he lived his last years in poverty. He died of meningitis in Paris in 1900.