589
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 2:
Line 2: + + + + + + + + + + + + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − − Wilde died in 1900, three years after his release from prison. In the past he was thought to have died of syphilis, but more recent studies by Dr Ashley Robins of the University of Cape Town in South Africa report that he died of meningoencephalitis, following a serious ear infection. <ref>http://classiclit.about.com/cs/profileswriters/p/aa_oscarwilde.htm</ref> − − Friends who visited him during the last days of his life have reported several versions of his 'dying words', including: − "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has got to go." − "I am dying beyond my means." − "I can’t even afford to die."<ref>http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/w/wilde/oscar_wilde.htm</ref> − As he was dying, he received absolution from a Roman Catholic priest, Father Cuthbert Dunne.
no edit summary
Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884, and they had two sons, but the relationship ended in 1893. Wilde then had a romantic relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, which eventually led to a conviction for [[homosexuality]] and indecency in 1895 for which he was sentenced to two years hard labor. He later wrote ''The Ballad of Reading Gaol'' and ''De Profundis'' about his experiences in prison.
Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884, and they had two sons, but the relationship ended in 1893. Wilde then had a romantic relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, which eventually led to a conviction for [[homosexuality]] and indecency in 1895 for which he was sentenced to two years hard labor. He later wrote ''The Ballad of Reading Gaol'' and ''De Profundis'' about his experiences in prison.
Wilde died in 1900, three years after his release from prison. In the past he was thought to have died of syphilis, but more recent studies by Dr Ashley Robins of the University of Cape Town in South Africa report that he died of meningoencephalitis, following a serious ear infection. <ref>http://classiclit.about.com/cs/profileswriters/p/aa_oscarwilde.htm</ref>
Friends who visited him during the last days of his life have reported several versions of his 'dying words', including:
"My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has got to go."
"I am dying beyond my means."
"I can’t even afford to die."<ref>http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/w/wilde/oscar_wilde.htm</ref>
As he was dying, he received absolution from a Roman Catholic priest, Father Cuthbert Dunne.
==Wit==
Wilde was a well known playwright and celebrity, and is still renowned for his wit today. Some of his lines in stories such as ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' are still often quoted:
Wilde was a well known playwright and celebrity, and is still renowned for his wit today. Some of his lines in stories such as ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' are still often quoted:
"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written."
''"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written."''
Other memorable lines from ''The Critic as Artist'' include:
Other memorable lines from ''The Critic as Artist'' include:
''
"The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius."
"The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius."''
''
"A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal."
"A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal."
"There is no sin except stupidity."
"There is no sin except stupidity."
"...nothing worth knowing can be taught."
"...nothing worth knowing can be taught."''
Wilde's most frequently-produced play is the high comedy ''The Importance of Being Earnest''. This includes such gems as:
Wilde's most frequently-produced play is the high comedy ''The Importance of Being Earnest''. This includes such gems as:
"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
''"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
"London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years."
"London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years."
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!"
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!"''
=Works of Oscar Wilde=
=Works of Oscar Wilde=