Oscar Wilde, a Critical Study

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

36017

Title

Oscar Wilde, a Critical Study

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Arthur Ransome's critical study explores Oscar Wilde's life and art, arguing that understanding the man is essential to appreciating his work. Blending biography with aesthetic analysis, the book examines Wilde's genius, his tragic downfall, and his enduring legacy as a master of wit and paradox.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Oscar Wilde, a Critical Study*, Arthur Ransome presents a comprehensive examination of the artist's life and works, asserting their inseparability. Ransome rejects the tendency to view Wilde merely as a criminal, instead focusing on his evolution from a brilliant critic to a tragic figure. The text begins by analyzing Wilde's aesthetic theories, particularly his advocacy for 'pure art' as useless and detached from moral utility, as found in *The Picture of Dorian Gray* and *Intentions*. Ransome explores the profound contrast between Wilde's decorative public persona and the sordid reality of his final years, noting how Wilde himself viewed his life as a work of art. The study covers Wilde's major writings, including his poems, fairy tales, plays like *The Importance of Being Earnest*, and his prison letter *De Profundis*. Ransome contextualizes Wilde within the literary landscape of the 1890s, comparing him to contemporaries like Walter Pater and William Morris, and discussing the influence of philosophers like Kant on Wilde's aestheticism. The narrative traces Wilde's trajectory from his Oxford days to his imprisonment and death, emphasizing that while his life ended in tragedy, his artistic achievements remain significant. Ransome concludes that Wilde's work, though sometimes flawed by his own indolence, offers a unique perspective on the relationship between life and literature, leaving behind a legend of beauty and brilliance that continues to resonate. Ransome highlights Wilde's conversational style, describing his talk as a 'tapestry' of imagery and paradox that rivals his written works. He notes that Wilde's genius was so complete that he put his talent into his books while his life was the occupation of his personality. Ultimately, the book argues that to truly appreciate Wilde's art, one must understand the spectacle of the man behind the books, as his life was material on which he practiced his powers of creation.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Literary Criticism