OSCAR WILDE

Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland, to a prosperous family. His mother, Jane, was a poet, and his father, William, was a prominent surgeon. Wilde excelled academically, attending Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford.

In the 1880s, he became a key figure in the Aesthetic Movement, promoting “art for art’s sake” and gaining fame for his wit and social commentary. His notable works include The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) and plays like The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).

Wilde’s personal life was marked by his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, which led to scandal. In 1895, he was prosecuted for “gross indecency” due to his homosexuality and sentenced to two years of hard labor. After his release in 1897, he lived in exile in France, struggling with health and finances. Wilde died on November 30, 1900, in Paris from meningitis, leaving a lasting literary legacy that highlights the challenges of individuality and artistic expression against societal norms.