Oscar Wilde's Life and Literary Career
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1854 to a prominent surgeon father and nationalist poet mother. He received an excellent education, studying at Dublin and Oxford University, where he excelled as a scholar and poet. Wilde was heavily influenced by aesthetic theories, embracing the role of an aesthete who pursued beauty in all its forms.
Highlight: Wilde's pursuit of beauty extended beyond literature to encompass art, fashion, and material objects.
In 1879, Wilde moved to London, quickly gaining a reputation as a brilliant wit and eccentric figure. He married Constance Lloyd and fathered two sons. His literary career began with the publication of "Poems" in 1882, followed by "The Happy Prince and Other Tales," a collection of children's stories.
Definition: An aesthete is someone who has or affects to have a special appreciation of art and beauty.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, published in 1891, remains Wilde's only novel. It sparked controversy for its ambiguous morality and veiled allusions. In 1895, Wilde faced accusations of homosexuality, resulting in a two-year imprisonment. During his incarceration, he penned "De Profundis." After his release, Wilde lived in exile in France, where he died in poverty from meningitis on November 30, 1900.
Quote: "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it." - Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
