Oscar Wilde

imię i nazwisko

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

urodził się...

He was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854

rodzina

His father, Sir William Wilde was a ear and eye surgeon, amateur writer, archeologist and a philanthropist. Oscar’s mother Jane Francesca Wilde was an Irish nationalist, translator of German literature, and also, a poet.

nauka

Until the age of nine, Oscar was educated at home. In 1871 Oscar began studying classics at Trinity College in Dublin and later at Magdalen College in Oxford.

był słynny z... (w szkole)

He soon became notorious for his involvement in the Aesthetic and Decadent movement as well as his extravagance (he wore long hair and funny clothes).

opuścił szkołę?

When he was asked to leave the university for one term because of his attitude, he decided to go on a voyage to Greece with one of his professors. When he came back, Oscar graduated from Oxford with an honours degree in two fields of study.

Kiedy powrócił do Dublina...

When he returned to Dublin in 1878, Oscar Wilde found out that his childchood friend and love Florence Balcombe had been engaged to Bram Stroker (the author of Dracula).

Jego pierwsza książka.

With the money left from the sale of his father’s house, he went to London. At 27 he published his first poems. The book initially sold well, but was later accused of plagiarism.

jego żona i dzieci

He married Constance Lloyd, daughter of a wealthy lawyer. The couple had two sons Cyril and Vyvyan.

książki

In 1890 he published his first and only novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. Then he wrote “Salome”, “Lady Windermere's Fan”,” A Woman of No Importance”, “An Ideal Husband”, and finally, his masterpiece “The Importance of Being Earnest”.

Oscar kochał...

In 1891 Oscar Wilde fell in love with Alfred Douglas, whose father, Marquess of Queensberry, opposed this relationship and publicly offended Oscar Wilde.

kara za miłość

Against the advice of many friends, the playwright went to court. The case became famous, but it was a case Oscar Wilde could not win in Victorian England. As homosexuality was a serious crime at the time, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labour.

znowu wolny ale nie szczęśliwy

By the time Oscar Wilde was free again, he was bankrupt. His wife had changed her and their children’s name to Holland and fled to Switzerland.

kolejne nieszczęścia, koniec z imieniem Oscar

His most important play had closed after just 86 performances. At this point Oscar Wilde decided to change his name to Sebastian Melmoth and to go to Paris. He lived in great poverty until his death three years later.

"Picture of Dorian Gray"

It tells the story of a handsome young man who devotes his life to beauty and sensual pleasures. One day he gets his portrait from one of his friends. Looking at the beautiful picture of himself, he declares that he would give his own soul if he could remain eternally young. He gets his wish, but the picture shows a gradual change as he sinks into a life of degradation and crime. After many years, he decides to change his life and be good, but he feels fear whenever he sees his portrait. He fina

"The Importance of Being Earnest"

This comedy is an attack on Victorian social values. Its main character, Sir Robert Chiltern is a rising political star and well-off. He has a beautiful and loving wife Gerturde. His life seems perfect, but all this is threatened when someone discovers the evidence that he, as a young man, sold cabinet secrets to a stock-exchange speculator. As the comedy goes on, we find out that this perfect Victorian man and husband is full of flaws.