Oscar Wilde Essay - 879 Words

Oscar Wilde was one of the most prominent Irish born playwrights. He was a major player in the aesthetic movement, which was based on art for art’s sake. Wilde was also a novelist, playwright, poet, and critic. He was born Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wilson Wilde on October 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland. Wilde came from a rather large family. William Wilde, his father, had three illegitimate children previous to his marriage. They were Henry Wilson in 1838, Emily in 1847, and Mary in 1849. William provided financially for all of them. Henry studied medicine and later assisted his father at St. Mark’s Hospital. William’s brother raised Emily and Mary but both died in a fire at the ages of 24 and 22. Oscar’s mother had three children, William†¦show more content†¦This came to be one of Oscar’s favorite books. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Oscar attended Protora Royal School at Enniskillen and excelled at Classics. In 1872, he placed first in his examinations and was awarded a Foundation Scholarship. In 1874, Oscar won the college’s Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek and was awarded a Demyship (scholarship) to Magdalen College, Oxford. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Then in 1876, Oscar’s father died and Henry had to support the family, until his sudden death in 1878. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Oscar did very well at Oxford and was awarded the Newdigate prize for his poem, â€Å"Ravenna† and â€Å"First In Greats† by his teachers. After graduation he moved to London with is friend, Frank Miles, a well-known portrait painter. Then in 1881, Oscar published his first collection of poems entitled, Poems.† It was reviewed well by the critics. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In late 1881, Wilde came to New York and traveled across the United States. He gave a series of lectures on â€Å"The Aesthetics.† Originally planed to last four months, the tour stretched to almost a year. In between lectures, Oscar met with Henry Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Walt Whitman. He also had his play, â€Å"Vera,† staged the following year. When Oscar returned from America, he moved to Paris. He was commissioned to write a blank-verse tragedy but declined due to his social life. He then went to Ireland and BritainShow MoreRelated Oscar Wilde Essay example1047 Words   |  5 PagesOscar Wilde Oscar Wilde himself would probably admit that his life had many incredible events that themselves would make an exceedingly gripping play, his unequalled rise to become the chief celebratory of his day and his dramatic fall from grace due to his arch rival, lord Queensbury. Oscar Wilde was born among the highest social circles of Dublin Ireland to two very unique and individual parents. His father was widely regarded as the best eye and ear surgeon in the whole of Great BritainRead More The Trial of the Sensational Oscar Wilde1357 Words   |  6 PagesThe Trial of the Sensational Oscar Wilde    Ed Cohens Talk on the Wilde Side discusses the trial of Oscar Wilde in 1895. Cohen explores the lack of legal transcripts of the case which relies on newspaper press reports and accounts to document this lawsuit. His investigations into the clarity of the newspaper accounts found that they were themselves highly mediated stories whose narrative structures organized and gave meaningful shapes to the events they purported to accurately representRead MoreOscar Wilde: A Brief Biography660 Words   |  3 PagesBackground Information: Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, son of William and Jane Wilde, was born October 16, 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. Wilde was born into a well educated and literate family, as his father was an ear and eye surgeon who had written multiple books during his practice. His mother was also a writer; she wrote articles relating to Irish nationalism, the rights of women along with multiple poems, essays, and stories (Shuman). Oscar excelled in school and received multiple recognitionsRead MoreOscar Wilde Research Paper837 Words   |  4 PagesOscar Wilde was an incredibly influential Irish poet, writer, and playwright that changed the way people wrote and the structure of writing. He was one of the greatest writers of the 18th century and possibly one of the greatest writers and wordsmiths of all time. His works earned many awards and high acclaim, even years after his death, leaving a legacy that most people would do anything for. He used a newfound way of writing and presented himself in a enigmatic and eccentric way. His clever andRead MoreEssay on Salome by Oscar Wilde1327 Words   |  6 PagesSalome by Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde’s gruesome and controversial play begs and important question. Who is Salome? In the bible this woman is not even given a name. She is the daughter of Herodias who dances for the pleasure of her stepfather, Herod. Perhaps the very fact that she remains unnamed is part of the mystery and problem that is Salome. There was no need to name this type of woman in patriarchal Christian religion. Yet, Salome’s story continues to inspire and terrify both her championsRead MoreOscar Fingal O Flahertie Wilde1533 Words   |  7 Pagesn Dublin, Ireland, Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wilde was born on October 16, 1864. His two parents were William Wilde, a Victorian doctor, and Jane Francesca Elgee, an artistic revolutionary. They also gave birth Willie Wilde and Isola Wilde, who eventually died at the age of ten. Overall, Wilde grew up in a family full of intelligence and creativity. Because Wilde was raised with many intellectuals in his environment, he had the advantage of an advanced education beyond his years. As an eleven yearRead Moreâ€Å"The picture of Dorian Gray† Oscar Wilde- Born on 16th of October in 1854, Oscar Wilde would700 Words   |  3 PagesDorian Gray† Oscar Wilde- Born on 16th of October in 1854, Oscar Wilde would become one of Londons most famous playwrights of his time. Wilde is remembered by much of his work, including his epigrams, which were brief statements, and his most prominent novel The picture of Dorian Gray, and the conditions of his imprisonment. Wilde is known for being one of the best-personalities of his time because of his â€Å"glittering conversations†, flamboyant dresses, and his lip biting wit. While Wilde was in hisRead MoreThe Misunderstood Legacy of Oscar Wilde Essay1663 Words   |  7 PagesThe Misunderstood Legacy of Oscar Wilde Surrounded by scandal caused by his own deception, Oscar Wilde left this world with a legacy of often misunderstood wit, a brilliant collection of writing, and sordid tales of an extramarital homosexual affair. The playwright progressed from a fashionable, flippant fop immersed in London society to a man broken by the public discovery of his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas. In his prime, Oscar Wilde was a social butterfly, admired and acceptedRead MoreThe Importance Of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde1750 Words   |  7 PagesBeing Earnest The Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde takes place in 1895 and exposes the hypocritical social expectations of the end of the Victorian era. During the Victorian period, marriage was about protecting your resources and keeping socially unacceptable impulses under control. The play undeniable reveals and focuses satire around differences between the behaviors of the upper class and that of the lower class. Oscar Wilde uses comedic symbolism of specific objects and witty satireRead More Homosexuality in the Works of Oscar Wilde Essay3123 Words   |  13 PagesHomosexuality in Oscar Wildes Work      Ã‚  Ã‚   I turned half way around and saw Dorian Gray for the first time. I knew that I had come face to face with someone whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself (7). During the Victorian era, this was a dangerous quote. The Victorian era was about progress. It was an attempt aimed at cleaning up the society and setting a moral standard. The Victorian era