Oscar Wilde and the Victorians

Oscar WildeBorn in Dublin, Ireland, on 16 October, 1854.

Father, Sir William Wilde, was a surgeon and mother, Francesca Elgee, was an Irish nationalist poet.

Married to Constance Lloyed (1882) and had 2 sons Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886).

I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying. –Oscar Wilde

I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best. –Oscar Wilde

Oscar WildeIn 1895, Wilde was accused of homosexual behavoir. He was sentenced to imprisonment and 2 years of hard labor.

He was declared bankrupt and his name was removed from some of his works.

He died of meningitis in Paris, 30 November 1900.

True friends stab you in the front. – Oscar Wilde

The works of Oscar Wilde

1891

1892

1893

1895

1895

Importance of Being Earnest

Considered to be Wilde’s masterpiece.

He ridicules Puritan ideals of earnestness and sincerity.

He also laughs at the manners, morals and social hypocrisy of the Victorian age.

The Victorian Age

Victorian age refers to the period of time during the reign of Queen Victoria, 1837 to 1901.

Prudish

Hypocritical

Conventional

Old-Fashioned

The Victorian Age and society

The middle class was prominent and thought the lower class as well as the artistocrats were morally inferior.

Capitalism, science and reason were important to the middle class.

They believed they gained success through personal talent, merit, earnestness and strict morality.

The Victorian Age and society

Family was the most important concept to middle class Victorians. Family brought social and economic stability.

Therefore, passion and loose sexual attitudes were not acceptable. This was evident in the art.

Although, the Victorians held such a high standard on morality prostitution still occured.

The Victorian Age and society

Women were considered to be unintelligent. They were looked at as a vice to men.

Women had very few rights and all their property went to their husbands.

Although, the society held these thoughts over women, they were still expected to educate the children and manage servants.

The Victorian Age and society

Pros

Helped abolish slavery in the British Empire.

Got rid of laws that discriminated against religions.

Extended education to lower classes

Cons

Thought poor people were poor because they were irresponsible and lazy.

Ignored the fact that their workers and household servants had little education. Their working conditions left no room for improvement.

Desired social reform but was plauged by hypocrisy and greed.