Oscar Wilde :: essays research papers

Oscar Wilde     Oscar Wilde (real name Oscar Fingal OFlahertie Wills Wilde) was born onOctober 16th, 1854 in Dublin. His father, William Robert Wilde, was an eminenteye doctor, with an interest in myths and folklore. He was the break out of thefirst eye and ear hospital in Great Britain, as well as the appointed SurgeonOccultist to the Queen, who knighted him. His mother, Jane Francesca ElgeeWilde, was a poet who wrote patriotic Irish measure under the pen name Speranza,and had a considerable following. As a youngster, Wilde was exposed to thebrilliant literary talk of the day at his mothers Dublin salon.     In 1864 Wilde entered the Portora Royal School at Enniskillen, and in1871 entered Trinity College in Dublin. In 1874 he left Ireland and went toEngland to attend Magdalen College at Oxford. As a student there, he excellight-emitting diodein classics, wrote poetry, and incorporated the Bohemian life style of his youthinto a unique way of life. He came under the influence of aesthetic innovatorssuch as English writers Walter Pater and John Ruskin. He found the aestheticmovements notions of "art for arts sake" and dedicating ones life to artsuitable to his temperament and talents. As an aesthete, Wilde wore long hairand smooth knee breeches, and became known for his eccentricity as well as hisacademic ability. His rooms were filled with various objets dart such assunflowers, peacock feathers, and blue china. Wilde frequently confided thathis superlative challenge at University was learning to live up to the perfectionof the china. Wilde won numerous academic prizes while studying there,including the Newdigate Prize, a coveted poetry award, for his poetry Ravenna.     In 1879 Wilde moved to London to make himself famous. He set aboutestablishing himself as the leader and model of the aesthetic movement. Besideshis hair and breeches, he added loose wide-collared silk shirts withflowing t ies and lavender colored gloves. He frequently carried a jewel-toppedcane and was caricatured in the press flamboyantly attired and holding an over-sized sunflower, an icon of the movement. Wilde cursorily became well knowndespite having any substantial achievements to build on. His natural wit andgood humor endeared him to the art and theater world, and through his lover domestic dog Miles, he found it easy to become part of the cliques that frequentedLondons theater circuit and drawing rooms. He became a much desired partyguest, and eventually his popularity led to his being chosen as an advancepublicity man for a new Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, Patience, that spoofed