Презентация на тему ‘we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.’

of us are looking at the stars.’

during the Victorian era; the period where Queen Victoria

ruled. This time is often believed to be a period of strictly conservative family values and prudery. Whilst it was certainly true that the traditional nuclear family was celebrated and upheld there were many elements of the Victorian period which were dynamic and progressive.

all changing. It was the age of invention and

life changed dramatically from one end of Queen Victoria’s reign to the other. The middle class was becoming more powerful challenging the power of the upper classes. For people living in Britain it was a largely peaceful era allowing people to focus on creating, designing and thinking.

was difficult if you were part of a minority

and many people had attitudes that we would consider racist, sexist and homophobic.
Class and social standing was still one of the defining aspect of a person’s life.

So what?
So… we need to consider Wilde’s writing within the context of the Victorian era and in terms of his own experiences as well as considering his chosen genres

himself does not think at all.” Oscar Wildе

1854.

Oscar’s parents were both prominent figures in Irish

society. His father, William Wilde, was an eye
specialist who was knighted for his work. He believed that it was important that the city’s poor should be able to access medical attention so he funded and opened a free eye and ear hospital.

and at University.
He attended Trinity College in Dublin
and

in 1874 won a scholarship to
Oxford University in England.

Oscar graduated with distinction from
Oxford University and moved to
London where he shared a house
with Frank Milne; a portrait painter.

In 1881 Oscar published his first
collection of poetry: “Poems’’.

also very well educated and outspoken.
Oscar and Constance

had two sons: Cyril and Vyvyan. To support his family Oscar took on the role of editing of ‘Women’s World’ for two years.

most creative period of his life. He published two

collections of children's stories, “The Happy Prince and Other Tales” (1888), and “The House of Pomegranates” (1892). His first and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in an American magazine in 1890 to a storm of critical protest. He expanded the story and had it published in book form the following year. Its implied homoerotic theme was considered very immoral by the Victorians and played a considerable part in
his later legal trials. Oscar's first play,
“Lady Windermere's Fan,”
opened in February 1892. Its financial and
critical success prompted him to continue
to write for the theater. His subsequent plays
included “A Woman of No Importance” (1893),
“An Ideal Husband” (1895), and
“The Importance of Being Earnest” (1895).
These plays were all highly acclaimed and
firmly established Oscar as a playwright.”

or an immoral book. Books are well written, or

badly written.”

Plate from ‘Salome’
Aubrey Beardsley

known as Bosie. Bosie and Oscar began a relationship

that lasted for four years.

Bosie’s father was the Marquis of Queensbury who took offence at his son’s relationship and called Oscar a ‘somdomnite’ meaning sodomnite.

in prison is, that things are what they are

and will be what they will be.”

psychologically and physically demanding and his health was ruined.

Constance moved to Switzerland with the children after the trial and changed her name. She died in 1898.
In 1900 Wilde died of meningitis.