Topic 51: Oscar Wilde and Bernard Shaw

(Introduction) George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde were

Irish-born dramatists and polemicists who influenced British culture in important ways as the 19^th century turned.

(Introduction) Though very different in their outlook, these writers both

reflected and inspired the society they represented through their work.

(Introduction) This topic aims to give a brief outline of the literary period of the time, followed by

an in-depth analysis of these influential writers and their very different ideological standpoints

(Irish literature) At the end of the 19^th century and throughout the 20^th century,

Irish literature experienced a remarkable period marked by globally successful works,

(Irish literature) At the end of the 19^th century and throughout the 20^th century, Irish literature experienced a remarkable period marked by globally successful works, especially those by

• Oscar Wilde

• James Joyce

• W. B. Yeats

• Samuel Beckett

• C.S. Lewis

• and George Bernard Shaw,

(Irish literature) At the end of the 19^th century and throughout the 20^th century, Irish literature experienced a remarkable period marked by globally successful works, especially those by Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, W. B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett, C.S. Lewis and George Bernard Shaw,

many of whom left Ireland to make a life in other European countries.

(The Irish Movement) The main aim for this movement was Ireland as an independent nation.

They claimed that Ireland possessed many distinctive features such as a unique religion, history and a sense of community.

(The Irish Movement) The Irish literary renaissance was a flowering of Irish literary talent

at the end of the 19^th and the beginning of the 20^th century that was closely allied with a strong political nationalism and a revival of interest in Ireland’s Gaelic literary heritage.

(The Irish Movement) was closely allied with

a strong political nationalism and a revival of interest in Ireland’s Gaelic literary heritage.

(The Irish Movement) This movement was centred on the poet and playwright

William Butler Yeats.

What was the main aim of the Irish movement?

Ireland as an independent nation

(The Irish Movement) However, it is important to mention that neither of the playwrights to be studied in this topic (O. Wilde and B. Shaw)

fit neatly into this category.

(The Irish Movement) O. Wilde and B. Shaw

were not nationalistic writers but were rather writers who wrote general topics in the English language and gained great recognition abroad.

(Anglo-Irish literature) Much quality work of Irish literature, i.e., those concerning specifically Irish themes, and especially of drama, was written during the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

However, the most important works were generally written in English and for an English audience.

(Anglo-Irish literature) Much quality work of Irish literature, i.e., those concerning specifically Irish themes, and especially of drama,

was written during the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

(Anglo-Irish literature) However, the most important works were generally written in English and for an English audience. This is referred to as

Anglo-Irish literature, it reflects the inheritance of two traditions: Celtic and English.

Anglo-Irish literature reflects

the inheritance of two traditions: Celtic and English.

Oscar Wilde YEARS

1854-1900

Oscar wilde NAME

Oscar F. O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

Oscar F. O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in Dublin,

the son of an eminent surgeon. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Who was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and at Magdalen College, Oxford?

Oscar Wilde

Which was the first book of Oscar Wilde?

Poems (1881)

(Oscar Wilde) His first book, Poems, was published in 1881; then,

in 1882, he travelled to America to give some lectures.

(Oscar Wilde)

(Oscar Wilde) He married Constance Lloyd and published several books of stories for children -

The Happy Prince and other stories.

(Oscar Wilde) The publication of his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) and G. Alexander's production of Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)

gave him popular success

Poems YEAR

1881

The Picture of Dorian Gray YEAR

1891

Lady Windermere’s Fan YEAR

1892

(Oscar Wilde) A Woman of No Importance (1893) established him as

the forerunner of modern English drama.

A Woman of No Importance YEAR

1893

(Oscar Wilde) A Woman of No Importance (1893) was followed by

Salomé, a play written in French which was censored; nonetheless, it was published in 1893 and translated into English the following year.

Wilde’s final plays, An Ideal Husband and his masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest

were produced in 1895.

An Ideal Husband

The Importance of Being Earnest

YEAR

1895

As a consequence of the rumours of his homosexuality and his relationship with Lord Alfred Doublas,

Wilde sue the Marquis of Queensberry, Doublas’ father.

Who did Wilde sue?

The Marquis of Queensberry, Doublas’ father

Wilde sue the Marquis of Queensberry, Doublas’ father. However, as homosexuality was illegal, the Marquis won the case resulting in

Wilde being sentenced to two years of hard labour at Reading Gaol.

Once released from prison in 1897, Wilde wrote the poem

The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

The Ballad of Reading Gaol YEAR

1897

(Oscar Wilde) As he was bankrupt and socially rejected, he

went to live to Paris where he died in 1900.

Oscar Wilde works

• First book: Poems (1881)

• Books of stories for children: The Happy Prince and other stories

• The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891)

• Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892)

• A Woman of No Importance (1893): G. Alexander’s production

• Salomé (1893)

• An Ideal Husband (1895)

• The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)

• The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1897)

Oscar Wilde’s unique vision of art was centred on the idea that

“all art is perfectly useless”

Oscar Wilde started the cult of Aestheticism:

art for art’s sake.

Oscar Wilde started the cult of

Aestheticism

Wilde was a representative of Anglo-Irish writing,

particularly in the genre of the comedy of manners.

(Oscar Wilde) His distinctive style was characterised by

his use of formulas from Victorian farce and melodrama, along with his polished wit in his dialogues.

(Oscar Wilde) He was less concerned with

addressing social issues.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) The novel, an updated version of

the Faust story, was serialised by Lippincott's Magazine.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) It relies on traditional themes

to create a powerful Gothic novel.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) It is considered

a moral tale about the price of immortality.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) PLOT

Hallward paints a portrait of the young and beautiful Dorian Gray. Dorian, influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton’s hedonistic philosophy, wishes for his portrait to age instead of him, desiring eternal youth in exchange of his soul. As Dorian indulges in sin and corruption, his portrait begins to show the signs of his moral decline, while he remains unchanged. His engagement to actress Sibyl ends tragically when he causes her suicide. Over the year, Dorian’s reputation deteriorates but he remains youthful. Eventually, after an argument with Hallward, the painter, Dorian kills him and attempts to destroy the painting. He is found dead with a disfigured face, while the portrait remains intact.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) Hallward paints a portrait of the young and beautiful Dorian Gray. Dorian, influenced by his friend

Lord Henry Wotton’s hedonistic philosophy, wishes for his portrait to age instead of him, desiring eternal youth in exchange of his soul.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) As Dorian indulges in sin and corruption,

his portrait begins to show the signs of his moral decline, while he remains unchanged.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) His engagement to actress Sibyl

ends tragically when he causes her suicide.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) Over the year, Dorian’s reputation deteriorates

but he remains youthful.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) Eventually, after an argument with Hallward, the painter,

Dorian kills him and attempts to destroy the painting.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) He is found dead with a disfigured face,

while the portrait remains intact.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) Important themes of this novel

• The purpose of art

• the supremacy of youth and beauty (1st principle of Aestheticism)

• The superficial nature of Victorian society

• Tension between his outwardly perfect life and his hidden immoral actions, building a dark atmosphere.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) The purpose of art and the supremacy of youth and beauty, the first principle of Aestheticism

is that art serves no other purpose than to offer beauty.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) The first principle of Aestheticism is that art serves no other purpose than to offer beauty.

This opposes the Victorian belief that art was a tool for social education.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) In the novel, Dorian remains accepted and admired in London’s social circles despite his immoral lifestyle,

highlighting the superficial nature of Victorian society, where beauty and youth are valued over moral conduct.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) The story

creates tension between his outwardly perfect life and his hidden immoral actions, building a dark atmosphere. Ultimately, sin is punished.

(The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891) Ultimately, sin is

punished

'There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all"

Preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) Name complete

Lady Windermere’s Fan, a Play About a Good Woman

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) is a four-act comedy, first performed

at the St James's Theatre in London.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) PLOT

The story concerns Lady Windermere, a young woman who suspects that her husband is having an affair with another woman called Mrs. Erlynne. Angered by her husband’s supposed unfaithfulness, she decides to leave her husband for another lover. However, the situation becomes more complicated when she discovers that Mrs. Erlynne is, in fact, her mother, who abandoned her family twenty years before. Mrs. Erlynne was exiled from Victorian society due to an affair she had while married to Lord Erlynne, a scandal which led to her social exile. In the play, she tries to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she herself made in the past.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) The story concerns Lady Windermere, a young woman who suspects that her husband is having an affair with another woman called

Mrs. Erlynne.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) Angered by her husband’s supposed unfaithfulness,

she decides to leave her husband for another lover.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) However, the situation becomes more complicated when she discovers that Mrs. Erlynne

is, in fact, her mother, who abandoned her family twenty years before.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) Mrs. Erlynne was exiled from Victorian society

due to an affair she had while married to Lord Erlynne, a scandal which led to her social exile.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) In the play, Mrs. Erlynne

tries to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she herself made in the past.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) The main preoccupation of the characters in the play is

• maintaining appearances

• and creating the illusion that everything is fine in a society that only cares about what is on the surface.

• To this end, Lord Windermere is willing to lie to his wife, letting her believe that he is having an affair, to protect their reputations.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) To create the illusion that everything is fine in a society that only cares about what is on the surface.

To this end, Lord Windermere is willing to lie to his wife, letting her believe that he is having an affair, to protect their reputations.

(Lady Windermere´s Fan, 1892) This vanity almost costs

Lord Windermere his family, never revealing the truth about his wife’s mother.

(The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895) Name complete

The Importance of Being Earnest, A trivial Comedy for Serious People

(The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895) Wilde’s last play proved to be

his most popular one

(The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895) First performed at the St James's Theatre in London, it is

a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations.

(The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895) The play explores several significant themes, including

the nature of marriage, which serves as a primary force triggering the plot.

(The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895) Lady Bracknell represents

the preoccupations of Victorian society, particularly concerning social status and income.

(The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895) Wilde critiques the Victorian idea of morality

as a fixed set of rules, exposing the upper class obsession with appearances.

George Bernard Shaw YEARS

1856-1950

(George Bernard Shaw) He was born in Dublin, Ireland. In 1876,

he moved to London, where he wrote regularly but struggled financially.

(George Bernard Shaw) In 1884 he joined the Fabian Society,

an organization of middle-class socialists dedicated to mass education and the legislative reform of England.

(George Bernard Shaw) In 1895, he became a theatre critic for

the Saturday Review and began writing plays of his own.

(George Bernard Shaw) His play Pygmalion was later made into

a film twice, and the screenplay he wrote for the first version of it won an Oscar.

To what was dedicated the Fabian society?

to mass education and the legislative reform of England.

(George Bernard Shaw) During his lifetime, he wrote more than 60 plays and

won many other awards, among them the Nobel Prize in 1925.

George Bernard Shaw’s works

• Unpleasant plays:

  • Widower’s House (1892)

  • Mrs. Warren’s Porfession (1893)

• Pleasant plays

  • Arms and the Man (1894)

• Comedies

  • Pygmalion (1913)

• Chronicle plays

  • Saint Joan (1924)

• Political extravaganzas

  • The Apple Cart (1930)

Widower’s House YEAR

1892

Mrs. Warren’s Profession YEAR

1893

Arms and the Man YEAR

1894

Pygmalion YEAR

1913

Saint Joan YEAR

1924

The Apple Cart YEAR

1930

(B. Shaw) Unpleasant plays

• Widower’s House (1892)

• Mrs. Warren’s Profession (1893)

(B. Shaw) Pleasant plays

Arms and the Man (1894)

(B. Shaw) Comedies

Pygmalion (1913)

(B. Shaw) Chronicle plays

Saint Joan (1924)

(B. Shaw) Political extravaganzas

The Apple Cart (1930)