Oscar Wilde (1856— 1900)
Oscar Wilde
Life Story n father Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin. His father was a famous surgeon and his mother was a poet. He was well-known in classics and poetry but he achieved far greater fames a leader of the aesthetic movement of the "Ninetieth" in London and a member of the doctrine of "Art For Art's Sake". He made himself the apostle of this new cult. After his imprisonment he lived in France until his death. O. Wilde possesses three qualities: brilliant wit, a sense ofthe theatre, an Irish shrewdness" (P. Church). His wit became a legend and we can see many examples reading his works. His wit emerged in his criticism of life and affected his style as a playwright. mother
His Works 1. 1892 — "LADY Windermere's FAN", 1893 — "Salome” (in French), 2. 1895 — "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST", 1898 - "BALLAD OF READING GOAL" (a poem), 3. 1888 — "THE HAPPY PRINCE and other TALES", 4. 1891 — "THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY". 1 2 3 4
A little more about him n This is the main source of contradictions in his creative work. These contradictions naturally found their reflection in his comedies, where "pure art" exists side by side with high humanism and bit satire. In fact the best of O. Wilde's works are closer to Romanticism and Realism, than to decadent Literature. At the height of his popularity and success tragedy struck. He was accused of immorality and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. When released from prison in 1897 he lived mainly on Continent and later in Paris, where died in 1900
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" Is a story of an artist Basil Hallward who was much devoted to his art. He succeeded in creating his masterpiece and gifted it with a soul. It was a picture of his friend whom he admired, who inspired him to create his portrait. “There is nothing that art can't express and I know that the work I have done since I met Dorian is a good work, is the best work of my life… His personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of life. I see things differently, I think of them differently. I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before. The harmony of soul and body — how much thatis!» His model, a young man Dorian Gray was everything to him.