The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist renowned for his sharp wit, flamboyant personality, and insightful social commentary. Born in Dublin, he excelled academically at Trinity College and later at Oxford, where he developed his distinctive style and love for the arts. Wilde became a central figure in London’s literary circles, celebrated for his epigrams and his advocacy of the Aesthetic movement, which championed beauty and art for their own sake.

Wilde’s literary output was diverse and influential. He wrote poetry, fairy tales, essays, and one novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which shocked Victorian society with its themes of beauty, morality, and decadence. He is perhaps best known for his witty and satirical plays, including Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest. These works remain popular for their humor, clever dialogue, and critique of social conventions.

Wilde’s personal life became the subject of public scandal due to his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas. In 1895, he was tried and convicted for "gross indecency" because of his homosexuality, which was illegal in Britain at the time. He spent two years in prison, during which he wrote the deeply personal De Profundis. After his release, Wilde lived in France and published The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a poem reflecting on his prison experience.

Oscar Wilde died in Paris at the age of 46, impoverished and largely outcast. Despite his tragic end, he is remembered as one of the most brilliant and influential writers of his era, admired for his enduring works, sparkling wit, and the courage with which he confronted both society and his own fate.