Oscar Wilde Research Paper

Oscar Wilde was a celebrated, witty, and flamboyant author of poetry and novels. This famous author’s life ultimately came to a tragic end through self-destruction. His life and his work reflected the 19th century Victorian age in its entirety through his Victorian life and upbringing, 19th century British society, and artistic adaptation of his time period. Oscar Wilde’s literature reflected the 19th century Victorian age through his life and upbringing. Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin,Ireland on October 16th, 1854 as Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde(“ Oscar Wilde” 1). He was the son of William Robert Wills Wilde and Jane Francesca Elgee (Beckson 1). His father, Sir William Wilde, was one of the most famous surgeons of his time (Ganz

The Victorian period was not just the royal monarchy but by the intense changes in the society, economy, and culture of the Victorian age (Swisher 1). Many changes insured including voting rights. Most of England’s male citizens received the right to vote (Swisher 1). The population of Britain doubled (Swisher 1). The base of society changed from agriculture to industry (Swisher 1). Britain built a global empire with global markets (Swisher 1). The social revolution was embedded in the industrial revolution, which England pioneered (Swisher 2). “T“They showed the rest of Europe and young United States how to develop global markets and a manufacturing economy that raised the standard of living for nearly all citizens” (Swisher 3). Englishmen at this time of Oscar Wilde began the nation’s economic strength and political strength (Erickson 4). Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were symbols of Britain's national success (Erickson 4). Wilde was very aware of this and he lived and wrote in a world bound and determined by the conventions of the Victorian age Gillespie 1). At this time, industry boomed (Erickson 1). “These attitudes informed efforts to forge a stable, well-regulated society, and those efforts in turn enabled England to avoid the political upheavals that periodically shook the governments of Continental Europe during the 19th century” (Erickson 1). Wilde used the history happening around him to shape his writing in Victorian