1. Oscar Wilde

2. Wilde was born in Dublin to a well-known surgeon and an artistic mother
He attended Oxford on a scholarship, earning a rare double degree at the end of his terms there
After graduation, Wilde moved to London
He soon made a name for himself as a speaker and literary critic
His Life

3. Wilde traveled to France, the US, and other European countries
He was the editor of a major women’s magazine in London
He was considered to be an excellent conversationalist and very witty
Wilde married Constance Lloyd
in 1885
They moved to London and live an extravagant lifestyle

4. Wilde had an extremely unique taste for beauty and art; he considered “aesthetics” to be the ultimate form of taste and enjoyment in the world – “art for art’s sake”
He dressed and acted flamboyantly, wearing bright colors, elaborate fabrics, and defending his right to enjoy life as a lover of fine, beautiful things
Interestingly, he was a devoted father to his two sons and provided his wife with a solid income

5. Wilde was one who “uttered opinions that were both outrageous and incongruous”
He “had the gifts of an actor who delights in gaining attention”
He had discovered that “a flamboyant style of dress was one of the most effective means of getting attention”

6. His Work Wilde excelled in several genres:
A critic of literature and society
Novelist
Poet
Dramatist
His greatest success was as a writer of comedians, such as “The Importance of Being Earnest”
His Work

7. Wilde was well-received as a playwright, and his work was produced in England and France

8. Wilde’s views of art, personal self-indulgence, and relationships led him to a lifestyle that was decadent and excessive
He had affairs with several men, most importantly with the son of a very important nobleman
The Marquis of Queensberry was angry with Wilde and his relationship with his son, Lord Alfred Douglas
His Downfall

9. The Marquis took Wilde to court and Wilde was convicted of his “lewd” lifestyle (England had just passed a law outlawing homosexuality – it was a felony)
Wilde spent two years in prison
His health and career failed, and he was never allowed to see his wife or sons again
Wilde moved to France after serving his sentence

10. Wilde appears to have attempted to redeem himself spiritually and asked to be allowed to live in a religious community for several months but was denied his request
Having lost his will do write, Wilde moved several times in Paris, finally ending up in a cheap hotel
He died, bankrupt, and virtually alone
He is buried in France