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Oscar Wilde Research Paper

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During the Victorian Era in British history there were numerous literary works being developed. The Victorian era refers to the period between about 1830 and 1901 and is named after England’s Queen Victoria, who was on the throne from 1873 until she died on January 22, 1901(Victorian Morality). During the era there were many histrionic changes and hasty development for England in almost all areas of industry, economy, and society (Miller). By the end of the Victorian era, England had developed as the leading power of the world. The principles during the time period can be broken down to Religion, Morality, Elitism, Industrialism and Improvement. The term "Victorian morality" is any set of values that embraced sexual restraint, low tolerance of crime and a strict social code of conduct (Wikipedia). With the Victorian era having such strict standards, there was one guy by the name of Oscar Wilde, who didn’t fall into the Victorian era so well. He did not try to conceal his sexual interest and openly lived with his lover for years (Aubrey). With his scandalous actions during the Victorian era, how does his work The …show more content…

They dream of the perfect man to take them as their wife, and they believe it was the only way to satisfy the dream of marriage that Victorian women dream of. As they dream of the perfect man, Gwendolen and Cecily had adopted the Victorian concept of the perfect man to shape their expectations of their potential

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This article discusses Ethan Couch being deported back to the United States after him and his mother left to Mexico. Ethan Couch, while intoxicated, caused a crash that ultimately killed four people in the other car, however, in a juvenile court he used an affluenza defense that left him with only 10 years of probation, including the restriction of alcoholic consumptions. After a video later showed up of Couch drinking at a party, him and his mother left to Mexico to evade the investigation. Recently, the Mexican authorities were trying to lift the injunction that has, so far, let the teenager stay in the country and trying to get him deported back to the United States. Although Couch is fighting the deportation, if he does come back he will

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1014 Words | 5 Pages

Nine years before, she learned of her future role and responded with the phrase “I will be good,” which she lived up to until her dying breath (Veldman et al.). During Victoria’s reign, she ruled under a constitutional monarchy, meaning that Queen Victoria had no real authority over government matters; however, she could influence and guide Parliament in her favor (“Victoria” The Royal Family). Queen Victoria is said to have been a good monarch, despite the disrespect the majority of Britain put on the royal family at the beginning of her reign (“Victorian Era: Information about Society & Daily Life”). Victoria came to rule “on the brink of a profound social and technological transformation,” which made Britain one of the wealthiest, and most populated, empires in the world (Felder 134). The Victorian Era, which was named after the British queen, was largely centered on the middle-class and the unjust regulations of the workers in society (Loftus).

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1408 Words | 6 Pages

Even though some people did not understand Wilde’s purpose, others easily captured the message. Therefore, although Oscar Wilde’s main priority was to mock the views of the upper class, not everyone received his message of criticism clearly, but they did enjoy the ridiculousness of the play. By using lampooning in his work, Wilde could use his heavy criticism to improve the day of the lower class by mocking the upper class’ personalities and

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672 Words | 3 Pages

In the classic play The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde ridicules men and women in love and the pursuit of marriage in Victorian society to create a comedic and drama filled play. Oscar Wilde makes fun of love in Victorian society by adding comedic techniques to his writing. First off, Lady Bracknell makes it quite clear Gwendolen will never marry Ernest, leading Gwendolen to reassure Ernest nothing her mother says “can alter my eternal devotion to you” (139). Jack and Gwendolen are in love, but Lady Bracknell does not approve. Gwendolen tells Jack that even if she marries another man, she will always fall back to him.

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549 Words | 3 Pages

Oscar wilde was a accomplished writer. A.Oscar had some successful plays. The Importance of Being Earnest, One of Wilde’s most important works, The Importance of Being Earnest is a clever farce. The main character is Jack Worthing, a respectable landowner.

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718 Words | 3 Pages

Through this satirical writing, Wilde uses comparison of beauty and industrialism and juxtaposition between compliments and criticism to paint American social values as backwards and unappealing in order to dispel the glamour of a romantic American culture.

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1024 Words | 5 Pages

Be it his extravagant lifestyle, bold mockery of the upper class, open homosexuality, or middle- finger to established social norms, Oscar Wilde is, at heart, a 21st century celebrity born 150 years too early√. In his 1895 play The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde satirizes the trivial and hypocritical values of his time. He uses satire not only to ridicule the pretentious aristocracy, but also to criticize the moral hypocrisy of the Victorian era, a culture that irrationally valued one’s immutable characteristics over the content of their character. Though the aristocracy may be a thing of the past, the reasoning behind Wilde’s jokes keep the message relevant to society in the digital age. The play’s title is satirical in and of itself,

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898 Words | 4 Pages

Most will remember his comedic works of literature and his philosophical commentary that will forever define him is as a person such as “I have nothing to declare except my genius”. Wilde’s ability to capture an audience’s attention and mind while getting them to retain his underlying messages sets him apart from other of his time. Wilde never shied away from sexual humor or challenging the societal norms are what ultimately defined him. Many believed it was his sexual orientation that gave him the ability to capture the characteristic in his work that define him until this day. To compare the character of Wilde himself to the characters of his writing we first have to have a complete understanding of each of the characters from “The Importance of being Earnest” both their overall character and who they are personally to each other and their importance.

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1366 Words | 6 Pages

Art, morality, and depravity: what do all of these have in common? For the late Victorians and thinkers of the time, artists who adhered to aestheticism and, soon after, to the decadence movement, were enabling a loss of morality in the arts. This loss was characterised by, what they considered to be, lewd behaviours, and an increase in ‘idleness’, depression and general ennui (a great enemy of society; the so-called ‘mal du siècle’ that afflicted so many of the young). These artists wished to be free to represent whatever subject matter they could think of, without restraints. Thus, ‘aestheticism’ was born out of a necessity to stand out from the previous generations.

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401 Words | 2 Pages

Oscar Fingall O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born to Sir William Wilde and Jane Francisca Elgee Wilde on October 16th, 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. His father was an esteemed surgeon and his mother was a writer of popular poetry. Wilde learned at Trinity College in Dublin for three years, attracting the attention of many with his works of literature. He later went to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he attracted colleagues to form a cult. The cult glorified youth and contradicted the beliefs of the Victorian era, which is evident in his work, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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169 Words | 1 Pages

The Victorian Era was named after Queen Victoria, she was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as of June 20,1837. Queen Victoria inherited the throne at 18 after the death of her uncle William IV. Infact, her reign lasted the longest out of all the monarchs in British history . Queen Victoria was associated with Britain's industrial expansion, economic progress , and lastly, the empire.

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915 Words | 4 Pages

Victorian Era The Victorian Era was I time period in Great Britain it took place from June 20, 1837, to January 22, 1901, it was a hard time where all people of all ages had to work it was named the Victorian Era because of Queen Victoria and her time of rule. This could also be referred to as the end of the industrial revolution when scientist discovered steam power. To continue the government and law spread over a wide area. The government was made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland but they had no written constitution.

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1283 Words | 6 Pages

Wilde is greatly influenced by the societal movements in the Victorian Era, therefore the theme of hedonism is prominent displaying the influence of Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray and further explaining the consequences of selfishness and self-pleasure. The Aestheticism movement shockingly challenged all past standards of love, pleasure, and sexuality. Specifically this Victorian movement “promotes sexual… experimentation. ”(Burdett)

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877 Words | 4 Pages

Wilde’s comedic influence takes place in the characters placing emphasis on trivial things and treating serious matters with inconsequence. Though this play could be viewed as a simple comedy, what makes it a satirical work is the underlying social commentary. Wilde highlights his views on institutions such as love, marriage, and gender relations by satirizing their nature via reductio ad absurdum and thereby reveals their essential frivolity. Though marriage is traditionally viewed by society as the final step in a lover’s journey, Wilde intentionally separates marriage and love to the point where they seem mutually exclusive.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

Did the Victorian Era was an example to follow in British literature and the worst era to be poor. The Victorian Era started with the rise to power of Queen Victoria in 1837 however, some people interpret that it starts in 1830. Queen Victoria’s imperialist principles gave Great Britain; India, Australia, Canada, Cape Colony (known today as part of South Africa), Kenya and Uganda. Even though, England had lost the 13 colonies in the century before they were still flourishing as the most powerful nation on the planet. Great Britain became a prosperous country economically across the whole empire.

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