Oscar Wilde: Redemption of genius who was treated as an outcast

November 29, 2019 at 12:52 hrs.

 

Oscar Wilde He is one of the most recognized and outstanding writers internationally. Eccentric personality addressed stories, novels, poems, plays and essays.

Was born a 16th October 1854 in Dublin, his mother Jane French Agnes Elgee or better known as Lady Jane Wilde was a poet.

From a young age he showed a deep thirst for knowledge, as well as an outstanding talent in letters. Soon he was fluent in French and German.  

Wilde liked to travel, this activity nurtured him personally and professionally. The poet and journalist triumphed with different texts since in them he poured an extraordinary mastery in this task. 

Among his most important works are: The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Ernesto and Salomé.

His work was distinguished by a sharp wit, in addition to going against the current of his contemporaries.

One of the greatest representatives of aestheticism died on November 30, 1900 in poverty and without the recognition that he once enjoyed.

Repudiation

Oscar Wilde married Constance Lloyd with whom he had two children: Cyril and Vyvyan.

In 1895, at the peak of his career, the Marquis of Queenberry accused him of homosexuality, due to an affair he had with the writer Alfred Douglas.

Wilde for his part began a defamatory process against him, which was unsuccessful. He was declared of grave indecency and sentenced to two years in prison, as well as forced labor.

The requests of the main literary circles were worth little to reduce or annul his sentence, he completely fulfilled his confinement.

At that time sexual intolerance in Britain and Europe was extremely serious.

During his stay in prison, his wife changed her surname, as did her children, to Holland. Being free they forbade him to approach them.

After the scandal his luck changed as no publisher wanted deals with Wilde.

He decided to change his name and surname to Sebastian Melmoth and emigrated to Paris, where he would remain until his death.

His last years were spent in economic precariousness, deteriorating health and drinking problems.

At this time, Wilde also had an important approach towards Catholicism. One of the last pieces he wrote was The ballad of the Reading jail.

Oscar Wilde is currently one of the most read and consulted authors.