Oscar Wilde: Life and Literary Contributions

Early Life and Education

• Born: October 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland.
• Parents:
  • Father: William Wilde, an acclaimed doctor, knighted for contributions to public health.
  • Mother: Jane Francesca Elgee, a poet and influential figure in the Young Ireland movement.
• Education:
  • Attended the Portora Royal School, excelling in classics.
  • Won a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin, earning top honors.
  • Furthered education at Magdalene College, Oxford, achieving first-class marks and awards.
  • Began creative writing, winning the Newdigate Prize for his poem "Ravenna".

Career Beginnings

• Moved to London post-graduation; lived with Frank Miles.
• Published his first poetry collection, "Poems" in 1881.
• Embarked on a successful American lecture tour, meeting literary figures like Walt Whitman.
• Became a leading proponent of the Aesthetic Movement, emphasizing art for beauty's sake.

Personal Life

• Marriage: Married Constance Lloyd in 1884; had two sons, Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886).
• Editorial Work: Edited "Lady's World", expanding its focus beyond fashion to include women's thoughts on art and literature.

Major Works and Literary Success

• Fiction and Essays:
  • "The Happy Prince and Other Tales" (1888), a collection of children's stories.
  • "Intentions" (1891), essays defending Aestheticism.
  • "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1891), his only novel, known for its moral complexity.
• Plays:
  • Wrote popular plays like "Lady Windermere's Fan" (1892), "A Woman of No Importance" (1893), "An Ideal Husband" (1895), and "The Importance of Being Earnest" (1895), noted for their satire and wit.

Imprisonment and Later Life

• Began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, leading to a libel case against Douglas's father.
• Trial led to his own arrest for homosexuality and a subsequent two-year prison sentence.
• Post-prison: Lived in exile in France, largely penniless and in poor health.
• Last notable work: "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" (1898), reflecting on his prison experiences.

Death and Legacy

• Died: November 30, 1900, in France, from meningitis.
• Remembered as much for his literary work as for his flamboyant lifestyle and imprisonment.
• Works like "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" remain celebrated as masterpieces of late Victorian literature.
• Wilde's dedication to Aestheticism and his views on art and its interpretation continue to influence and intrigue.