Oscar Wilde

Materie:	Appunti
Categoria:	Lingue
Voto:	1.5 (2)
Download:	146
Data:	11.10.2001
Numero di pagine:	2
Formato di file:	.doc (Microsoft Word)

Oscar Wilde

There seems to be nothing more remarkable about Oscar Wilde than an intense peculiarity, which his admirers call genius, practical-minded folks humbug, with financial gain in view, and a remaining class who call it consummate weakness and folly. Mr. Wilde's singularity is partly due to nature, partly to affection, and largely to profit by that weakness in human nature which causes people to run after any new and curious thing.
In this instance, the object of curiosity, confined pretty much to people of "society" proclivities, is a young man and fairly good looking, of gentle blood, well-educated, with a wondrous turn to suave and persuasive talk. This noted lecturing æsthete, through the astute methods of his business manager, netted quite a large sum of money from his lecturing tour through this country a few years ago; especially as professional aestheticism was at a premium in the American market at that time. Both English and American caricature had been helpful to this substantial result, that of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience" most particularly. Between the caricature and the real aesthete there do appear to be many strong points of resemblance, for Oscar Wilde's appearance, talk and manners are sufficiently distinct from that of other men to give him an individuality which perhaps the most of people laugh at but many admire.
And who is this Oscar Wilde? He is a young Irishman--the son of Sir William Wilde, who was an eminent oculist, surgeon-oculist to Queen Victoria; also founder and chief-of-staff of St. Mark's Ophthalmic and Aural hospital, Dublin; and an eminent archaeologist and author, twice distinguished by his election as president of the Royal Irish Academy. Not only had the subject of this sketch such an eminent father, but his mother also was a poetess and novelist, and known to fame as "Speranza." Born in an enviable social status, Oscar enjoyed the educational advantages of his position, but neither at school nor college manifested great ability.
However, since about the year 1882 he has been acknowledged as the leader of that class of persons in London society who profess to find the secret of life in beauty, and who industriously spend their time, or fancy they do, in the enjoyment of the beautiful where less gifted mortals fail to find it.
He has published a volume of poetry, which, though severely criticised by the press, is not destitute of good verses; but on the contrary, the volume contains many poems of merit. He probably has been too severely dealt with by the critics, who are ever ready to apply the lash to the apostle of any new innovation. While lecturing in this country, he usually appeared on the platform dressed in full dress coat, white vest, black knee breeches, black silk stockings and low shoes. He is now in London editing a paper exclusively for women.