Oscar Fingal O’Fflahertie Wills Wilde, better known to the world as Oscar Wilde, was an Irish poet and playwright. He was born on October 16. 1854, in Dublin, to an Anglo-Irish couple: Jane Elgee and Sir William Wilde. He is best known for his epigrams and plays and his famous novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” In the 1890s, he also became one of the most popular playwrights in London.
Wilde’s parents were considered intellectuals in Dublin. Oscar’s mother, Jane, was also an author and would often read to him and his brother Willie when they were young. His father, Sir William, also wrote books about Irish peasant folklore and archaeology. He learned to speak fluent French and German at a young age, and by the time he went to university, he was named an exceptional classicist. He studied at Trinity College in Dublin and then at Magdalen College, Oxford.
He received acclaim after publishing “A Picture of Dorian Gray” in 1891. His play, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” in 1892, also received praise and was in production for many years. His works have survived until modern-day, and the Dorian Gray character has become a recurring figure in culture. People became fascinated with the concept of an immortal man, but the initial reception at the time of publication was negative.
Wilde’s life and career were filled with scandal and mischief. He was arrested, convicted, sentenced to prison, and was later exiled. His works, however, have continued to spark new interest among contemporary readers. Having a life filled with controversy about his sexuality, fans of his work began looking into his personal life and begged the question, “Was Oscar Wilde gay?” We’ll take a brief look into the author and playwright’s life to answer this question.
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Oscar Wilde’s Relationships
Wilde’s personal life came under public scrutiny after he became entangled in several lawsuits. Biographers also analyzed his relationships and known affiliations to determine his true sexuality. Fortunately, there are records of Wilde’s many indecencies and scandals that have survived until modern day. Here are some of Oscar Wilde’s relationships.
Oscar Wilde and Constance Lloyd (1884-1900)
Constance Lloyd was the daughter of Horace Lloyd, a Queen’s Counsel. She was visiting Dublin when Wilde was giving a lecture at the Gaiety Theatre. They met, and Wilde proposed to her shortly after. They were married in May of 1884. The couple lived lavishly and reportedly had luxurious tastes they never hesitated to satisfy, They had two children, Cyril, born in 1885, and Vyvan, born in 1886.
The couple’s relationship declined after Lloyd’s second pregnancy. Wilde had reportedly shown more interest in men and Greek love.
Oscar Wilde and Robert Ross (1886)
Wilde met Robert Ross at Oxford in 1886, and they became good friends. Ross had read Wilde’s poems and was unrestrained by the Victorian laws against homosexuality. According to reports, Ross was young and determined to seduce Wilde. It is rumored that Ross gave Wilde his first homosexual experience. Ross had stayed with Wilde throughout most of his life and was even present at Wilde’s deathbed.
Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas (1891)
Wilde met Lord Alfred Douglas in mid-1891 through a mutual friend. An intimate friendship developed between Douglas and Wilde, and the latter reportedly became infatuated with the former. Their affair was relatively indiscreet, with both Wilde and Douglas being careless in public, often caring little about how people would react to their affection. Wilde reportedly indulged Douglas’ every whim: artistic, material, or sexual.
It was Douglas who reportedly introduced Wilde to the world of male prostitution. Wilde took advantage of the money he had earned from his books and plays to hire young boys. He would dine with them, talk, and have intercourse.
Oscar Wilde’s Imprisonment
Wilde issued a civil writ against John Shotto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, for libel. John Shotto Douglas was the father to Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde’s lover. The Marquess countered by hiring private investigators to uncover proof of Wilde’s homosexuality. Wilde had inadvertently brought his life to the public eye.
Many of Wilde’s friends and companions advised him against pursuing the criminal libel complaint, but Wilde was too proud and stubborn to back down. He also believed that he had been greatly wronged. Some sources maintain that Wilde proceeded with the charge as retaliation to John Douglas for getting in between him and Alfred.
Wilde’s closest friends and companions had advised him to flee London as the crackdown on homosexuals and male prostitution strengthened. Wilde chose to stay.
The proof was uncovered, and Wilde was convicted. Wilde was sentenced to prison. He was incarcerated from 1895 to 1897. Wilde’s trials were considered one of the first celebrity trials as many who have read his works and big fans of his plays tuned into the court proceedings.
He was released in May of 1897 and stayed in France for good. He spent his final years impoverished and in exile. He died on November 30, 1900, in France from cerebral meningitis.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
After publishing, the book immediately received much criticism and negativity. It was heavily criticized for its portrayal of flamboyance and homosexual allusions. Critics called the work “unclean,” “poisonous,” and exhibited “spiritual purification.” The book contained decadent passages and homo-eroticism exercised.
The Importance of Being Earnest
After publishing, the book immediately received much criticism and negativity. It was heavily criticized for its portrayal of flamboyance and homosexual allusions. Critics called the work “unclean,” “poisonous,” and exhibited “spiritual purification.” The book contained decadent passages and homo-eroticism exercised.
Was Oscar Wilde gay?
Yes. Oscar Wilde was gay. Though Wilde was married at one point, he had many sexual relationships with men after his marriage declined. His unfortunate entanglement with Lord Douglas led to people discovering his true sexuality. He also included many references to his displeasure with marriage, inference to Greek love, androgynous characters and men with feminine features, many of whom were described as beautiful.
Featured Image: “Oscar Wilde”, by Napoleon Sarony, licensed under PDM 1.0 DEED