OSCAR WILDE: A CERTAIN GENIUS

Barbara Belford

INTRODUCTION

Shows in vivid detail journey of Oscar Wilde’s life from studious Oxford student, to a famous, egotistic playwright to drastic transformation after imprisonment

Oscar’s evolution from childhood in Ireland to Oxford and his imprisonment

Man of spectacular energy, intellect, warmth

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Intelligence: “The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame”

Cleverness: “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person…Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth”

Aim in life: to achieve, “Success, fame or even notoriety.”

TIMELINEOscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wilde born October 16, 1854 at 21 Westland Row, Dublin

October 17, 1874

Enters Magdalen College, Oxford

May 18, 1879

Moves to London

May 29, 1884

Marries Constance Lloyd, London

1886Affair with Robert Ross

1890Publication of ‘The Critic as Artist’

July, 1891

Wilde meets Lord Alfred Douglas

November 9, 1893

Publication of Lady Windermere’s Fan

May 25, 1895

Found guilty, sent to Holloway Prison

November 30, 1900

Death in Paris

CONFLICTS ANALYSIS

Person vs. Self: love for wife and affair with Robbie Ross

Person vs. Person: Marquess of Queensberry accuses Wilde of gross indecency (illegal sexual activity), Wilde counters with libel action

Person vs. Society: broke Criminal Law Amendment Act

LESSONS LEARNED

Temptation hard to resist even if succumbing to it means betraying people who love you

Not be led by emotions, physical appearances; fragile bond can easily break if there is no commitment, proper communication

Society’s rules have to be known, followed, respected by all individuals, no exceptions

STYLE ANALYSISDetailed, picturesque descriptions of places, fashion

Significant quotations, seamlessly etched into text creating structure and flow

Metaphor: “he would have withered and died, for imprisonment is a form of erosion as the prisoner consumes himself with trying to understand his abandonment”

CONCLUSION

Pride, reputation, integrity dissolved; genius has been vindicated by bringing to glory his works.

Words reflect charm, gracefulness, wit forever engraved into history

Will always stand for ability of language and art to shock, to expose, to challenge; for freedom to love another human being