Oscar Wilde :: essays research papers

Oscar Wilde     Oscar Wilde (real name Oscar Fingal OFlahertie Wills Wilde) was born onOctober 16th, 1854 in Dublin. His father, William Robert Wilde, was an eminent centre of attention doctor, drolleryh an interest in myths and folklore. He was the founder of thefirst eye and spike hospital in Great Britain, as sound as the establish SurgeonOccultist to the Queen, who knighted him. His mother, Jane Francesca ElgeeWilde, was a poet who wrote patriotic Irish verse under the playpen name Speranza,and had a considerable following. As a youngster, Wilde was exposed to the excellent literary talk of the day at his mothers Dublin salon.     In 1864 Wilde entered the Portora olympian School at Enniskillen, and in1871 entered Trinity College in Dublin. In 1874 he left Ireland and went toEngland to attend Magdalen College at Oxford. As a student there, he excelledin classics, wrote poetry, and incorporated the Bohemian life style of his youthinto a unique way of life. He came under the influence of aesthetic innovators such as English writers Walter Pater and John Ruskin. He found the aestheticmovements notions of " fine art for arts sake" and dedicating ones life to artsuitable to his temperament and talents. As an aesthete, Wilde wore broad hairand velvet knee breeches, and became known for his eccentricity as well as hisacademic ability. His rooms were filled with various objets dart such assunflowers, peacock butterfly feathers, and blue china. Wilde frequently confided thathis greatest challenge at University was learning to break down up to the perfectionof the china. Wilde won numerous academic prizes while canvas there,including the Newdigate Prize, a coveted poetry award, for his poem Ravenna.     In 1879 Wilde moved to capital of the United Kingdom to make himself famous. He set aboutestablishing himself as the leader and manikin of the aesthetic movement. Besideshis hair and breec hes, he added loose-fitting wide-collared silk shirts withflowing ties and lilac colored gloves. He frequently carried a jewel-toppedcane and was caricatured in the rack flamboyantly attired and holding an over-sized sunflower, an icon of the movement. Wilde quickly became well knowndespite having any substantial achievements to build on. His natural wit andgood humor endeared him to the art and theater world, and through his lover andiron Miles, he found it easy to become part of the cliques that frequentedLondons theater round and drawing rooms. He became a much desired partyguest, and lastly his popularity led to his being chosen as an advancepublicity man for a new Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, Patience, that spoofed