Oscar Wilde

Oscar 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

Britain and is still today looked upon as the founder of that specific

medical branch. His mother, a self-proclaimed genius, was a committed

feminist and a key member and open supporter of The Irish independence

movement. This unusual couple formed a cornerstone of Irish society

who mixed with royalty somewhat. Straight away from even my limited

reading we can tell that Wilde wrote within parameters that he felt

comfortable and knowledgeable within.

Wilde was placed within the most stimulating enviroment from the

earliest age. His mother held weekly gatherings of some of Dublin's

finest artists and intellectuals within her house. Wilde was

critically lucky enough to be thrust into this environment by his keen

parents who would make sure that he was present for such occasions. At

such a young age he had the confidence, intelligence and wit to keep

the family's guests amused with short stories and conversation. The

confidence that stood him in good light for so much of his life would

eventually manifest itself as cockiness and would become his undoing,

but there was no sign of this yet.

Oscar was overprotected throughout his childhood by his mother who was

a constant worrier. Although, as Wilde recalled, poverty surround...

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this search Wilde began liable proceedings that he was advised he

would defiantly lose. Why Wilde took these actions is open to debate

but I personally believe that he believed that the same cockiness and

comic wit that he used in his plays so successfully could be harnessed

to fight against the impressive authority of the British judicial

system. Wilde crumpled after a spectacular defeat. Following the

disaster he spent three years in prison

When Wilde left prison he was denied the right to see Constance his

wife (which he didn't mind) and his children (which he did). He fled

to Paris in France to live out his life. A short romantic reunion with

Bosie collapsed after a mere three months and Wilde waited out three

lonely years till death in Paris. Abandoned by his peers he died alone

and arrogance free in a bare, poorly furnished hotel room in Paris.