Victorian England saw radical and drastic changes in many areas, from technological developments to scientific discoveries and shifts in social norms. The peak of Wilde’s literary career, as well as his trial and death, coincided with the final years of the Victorian Period. Ultimately, Wilde was put on trial in 1895 for gross indecency after his conviction, he served two years in prison before moving into exile in France, where he ultimately passed away at the age of 46. Allusions, both subtle and explicit, to homosexuality began to recur in Wilde’s works-whole sections of The Picture of Dorian Gray were censored prior to publication, due to their scandalous content, and reviewers still described the finished book as excessively decadent and even unclean. The couple had two sons together, but their relationship was rocked by Wilde beginning to undertake homosexual relationships with other men, beginning with the journalist and art critic Robert Ross. Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884, whose annual allowance helped fund his luxurious style of living.
However, Wilde also identified as a socialist, and published an essay called “The Soul of Man under Socialism” outlining his beliefs.
He was known for his dedication to the aesthetic movement, having published papers on aesthetic morality as early as 1874-he lauded decadence and the value of art for its own sake, a theme that recurred in his plays and fiction. Wilde was baptized in a local Anglican church and remained dedicated to the Christian faith throughout his lifetime, in spite of the eccentricities of other aspects of his lifestyle.
His mother, Jane Wilde, was a poet who wrote under the name “Speranza,” or hope, and his father, Sir William Wilde, was an ear surgeon. Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland and educated at both Trinity College, Dublin and Oxford.
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