( ) Irish dramatist, poet, and author Oscar Wilde

Biography Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born 16 October 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Sir William Robert Wills Wilde ( ), was a surgeon. (A surgeon of the eyes, ears, and throat – knighted in 1864) His mother was a prominent poet and nationalist (Jane Francesca Agnes née Elgee [ ]) Wilde was the second of three children. He was schooled mainly at home, but entered Trinity College (Dublin) in 1871.

Bio Cont. From there he went to Magdalen College, Oxford, England to study classics. It was here that he came under the influence of writer and critic Walter Pater ( ) and helped found the Aesthetic Movement, "art for art's sake". After school, Wilde spent his time in London writing poetry. His first collection, entitled Poems, was published in After this he spent two years touring Europe and the Americas lecturing on aestheticism. In 1884, he married Constance Mary Lloyd ( ) with whom he would have two sons.

Bio Cont. In 1891, Wilde met Lord Alfred Douglas (“Bosie”). The two began living together, which did not at all please Douglas’ father, who set out to defame Wilde. Though Wilde tried to protect himself legally, he ultimately lost the case and was charged with “gross indecency” for homosexual acts. A sensational trial followed, but again Wilde lost and was sentenced to two years hard labor, which he served at Reading Goal (a prison outside London). While in prison, Constance had her last name changed to Holland (and her sons’ names, too).

Bio Cont. While in prison, Wilde wrote the magnificent De Profundis and many volumes of poetry (including “The Ballad of Reading Goal”). Adopting the name Sebastian Melmoth, Wilde went to Paris, penniless, and is said to have reunited with his friend and lover of many years, Canadian journalist Robert Baldwin "Robbie" Ross ( ), who was also executor of Wilde's estate. Oscar Wilde died of meningitis on 30 November 1900.

aesthete noun1.a person who has or professes to have refined sensiti- vity toward the beauties of art or nature. Hedonism noun1.the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest g ood. 2.devotion to pleasure as a way of life: The later Roman emperors were notorious for their hedonism.

Article What do we learn about the movement? What does it entail?

The Faustian Tradition Faust (pronounced ‘fowst’) orFaustus is a scholar who sells his soul to the Devil. Although fictional in literature, the legend is based on an actual magician who lived in the area of northern Germany in the fifteenth century. Once idealistic, he is now disillusioned and bitter with despair. He foresakes God and makes a perilous deal with the Devil in which he commits his soul to eternal damnation in return for power and knowledge in this life. The legend has inspired many great writers, musicians, and other artists. The two most famous works on the Faust theme are Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, and Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s Faust. While Goethe’s Faust has been called the definitive Faust, there is no one Faust story, instead, there are hundreds or thousands of variations on the theme in theatre, music, film, poetry, art, and literature.