The Importance of Being Wilde

A post by Annie and Lusi.

Oscar Wilde, born Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills, was born and raised in Ireland. His father's career as an esteemed surgeon allowed Oscar to attain an impressive college education at both Trinity College and Magdalen College. While studying at college, Wilde became part of the "Oxford Movement" which sought to promote the virtues of classic culture and artistry. He also became infatuated with aestheticism which was the belief that art should be created for the sake of art. Wilde began with poetry in college and his outstanding poem "Ravenna" won him the Newdegate Prize. After college, he published his first volume of poetry and shortly after, his first play. His play, "The Duchess of Padua", was a tragedy not only in the literal sense but also in its dismal failure with the public. Around this time, Wilde sparked a sensation, but as a comedic author instead of a tragic author. His most famous comedic plays are "Lady Windermere's Fan", "An Ideal Husband", and "The Importance of Being Earnest". Wherever he went or whatever he wrote, controversy seemed to follow him. Wilde was accused of sodomy and eventually died because of it. However, he is immortalized through his works, particularly "The Importance of Being Earnest," which has been renowned for its hilarity and loss of mistaken identities.