Oscar Wilde was one of the most noticable literature figures of the last century. Even at his time he was famous for his masterful conversation and his amusing plays. In London he was in great demand in the most fashionable circles of society. He boasted that he could talk about any subject - and proofed it thousands of time. George Bernhard Shaw ( also an Irish writer) once said that he was the finest talker of his time, maybe of all time.
Oscar Wild had a shimmering life, but he died a broken man in exile. So what happened?
Lets start at the very beginning of his life around 1850 in Dublin, where Oscar was born. Already his parents were gifted writers, his mother was a successful poet and journalist and his father wrote many books folklore and archeology. When Oscar was born, he was a huge disapointment for his mother who always wanted a daughter. To make up for his gender mistake she decided to let Oscar´s hair grow into curls and ringlets, until he was about nine.
At university Oscar Wilde proofed himself to be an brilliant poet and an outstanding performer, but the real fame came after his journey to America. He played everywhere, in front of cowboys, miners or of screaming mobs of women. Later he would tell the world that while in America he had to hire two secretaries. One One to write his autograph and to answer the hundreds of letters and another whose hair was brown to send locks to ladies who requested his, he was rapidly becoming bald.
Back in London he was a Superstar. He married, got two children and gained a lot of money through his popular plays. But Oscar Wildes live changed rapidly when he met the young and attractive Oxford student and poet, Lord Alfred Douglas, called Bosie. He seduced Wilde, who now had to face his homosexuality. They began an affair, often argued and broke up but always came back together. Bosei was a spoiled young man with expensive demands and used Wildes affection for his advantage. Douglas also introduced Wilde into the Voctorian underground of gay prostitution.
Homosexuality had been Illegal in Britain for hundreds of years and was seen a crime which was punished with imprisonment or worse. When Bosies father found out about the relationship between his son and Oscar Wilde he accused Wilde of Homosexuality.
The three trials of Oscar Wilde went down in history. Oscar Wilde presented himself in his typical self confident way and really made the dock his stage. Many of his responses drew loud applause from the audience. But when Bosies father showed up with several male prostitutes as witnesses, that had sex with Oscar Wilde, his situation became helpless. He was sentenced to two years of hard labor.
This very famous and sad poem was produced in these two years of prison.
“And all men kill the thing they love,
But let all this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word:
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword.”
After his release he went in exile to Paris. There he met Bosie now and then, but during the years in prison both had changed and the passionate love was gone. In 1900 Oscar died of meningitis in the a hotel in Paris. Although he was penniless the owner placed him in the best room and he was given the best meal and the best wine. It is told that his comment was: “ I am dying as I have lived. Beyond my meanings” His last words are said to be: “This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One of us has to go”.
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