The Tragedy of Oscar Wilde

Many people these days know of Oscar Wilde due to his tragic masterpiece Dorian Gray. Very few however are aware of the man himself. I suspect that has to do with the fact that during the final part of his life, he was basically an outcast of both his hometown, and the era in which he was spawned.

It is a pity when people are remembered more for their sins than their successes. Even more pitiful though is when someone is reviled, even in the grave. I am not defending Oscar's lifestyle by any means, however, I am saying that the man was far more than just his excesses and scandals.

He was a skilled, if tortured artist, and while he had his share of faults, and indeed his share of sin, there is no denying his contributions to the literary world are vast. The tragedy of Oscar Wilde is that he was, when all is said and done, a victim of himself.

He set out to be his own best work of art, and ended up being instead his own worst enemy.