An Insight: A Closer Look at the Life of Oscar Wilde

 While reading The Picture of Dorian Gray I wondered more on the life of Oscar Wilde. What kind of man was he? What did other writers think of him? After writing such a novel how was he seen as an individual in the Victorian Era? I started searching and luckily came across an article written by Andrew McCracken titled, The Long Conversation of Oscar Wilde. McCracken gave an argument of how Wilde used Catholicism in his pieces, who didn't become part of the Catholic until the final days of his young life. 

The article gives a brief biography of Wilde's early life. Moving to Oxford University  from Dublin, Ireland  to study under novelist Walter Pater. While studying with Pater Oscar Wilde was captivated by the aesthetics of the Catholic ritual. Because of his new infatuation with the Catholic religion Wilde met a new Catholic by the name of David Hunter-Blair who wanted to convince Wilde to join the Catholic church. Unfortunately Wilde said that to join the Catholic church would mean for him to surrender his two greater Gods, "Money and Ambition." Wilde was only interested in the "romantic" part of the religion, not actually becoming a part of it. He had other things in mind.

It wasn't shocking to find out that when he first entered society in London they embraced him with open arms. He had great taste and opinion in art, he dressed finely, and lent his advice to the fashions. In the 1880s, to my surprise, Wilde got married and had two sons over the course of two years. He wrote short stories and novels for children that were well received and all seemed right in his world. That was until he reached the 1890s and his life began to spiral downwards. 

The year 1891 when The Picture of Dorian Gray was released to the public. It caused a frenzy because many claimed the book to be about Oscar Wilde's life himself. McCracken writes that the average book reviewer would say the novel was "a poisonous book" filled with "moral and spiritual putrefaction," saying that the book "hints...at disgusting sins and abominable crimes." Reading that I thought it was a harsh review of the book. Of course I had to take into consideration that during the Victorian Era, especially in high-class London society, the book wasn't exactly what Wilde should be writing about. The audience wasn't ready for this kind of book, they had their own sensibilities to think of. The one thing that really stood out me was McCracken's view on Wilde's novel, saying the theme of the book is  "a theme that lies at the heart of Catholicism: the ruin of the soul brought about by sin."

I think Wilde knew what he was doing when he wrote the novel. After studying the Catholic religion and experiencing it he wanted to write about the conscience of the sinner. However, it wasn't just Dorian Gray that brought attention to Wilde's other life, but the subtle use of Catholicism in his other works. Sadly because of the life Wilde wished to live he was sentenced to two years of excruciating labor at Reading Gaol– just for being a homosexual. While serving his sentence in prison McCracken says Wilde faced real life sin and suffering. His time in prison must have awakened his spirit of some sorts because after his release in May 1897 he sent a request for a 6 month retreat to the Jesuits of Farm Street. Did Wilde wish to revive his broken spirit with the Ignatian spirituality? It's possible because on his death bed he was accepted to the Catholic church.

Overall, I found the article interesting that McCracken was explaining how Catholicism really inspired Oscar Wilde's work. His life is an interesting one and to read how towards the later years of his life he was persecuted and banished from a society that once loved to hear and read his opinions. I highly recommend this read, gives a new perspective on the man who wrote such an amazing novel (in my opinion).