Cleveland Street and Wilde

Created by Jalen Isley on Mon, 12/06/2021 - 20:57

Part of Group:

Oscar Wilde and British Aestheticism (F21 LITR 388 / LITR 379H Columbia College Chicago)

My research paper is focusing on how Cleveland Street Scandal along with the trials and fall of Oscar Wilde affected how the reception was for "Picture of Dorian Gray" 

Timeline

Cleveland Street Scandal

1889

In 1889, Charles Hammon ran a male brothel at No 19 Cleveland Street in London. Sexual activities with men were illegal throughout London; however, sexual activities between women were not unlawful. When the police investigated further into the brothel and found several elites of high London society, Lord Arthur Somerset, also known as the Prince of Wales, as one of the patrons. Londoners believed that the police brought no charges in response to that matter due to its embarrassment. Not only would the country be embarrassed, but the families of those caught in the scandal would have their lives changed forever. In the case of Wilde, when it was discovered that he did not deny sleeping with men and young boys in his trial, all of his writings were pulled from bookshelves. Few books were sold in pornographic stores. Many suspects had the charges against them dropped or fled the country to avoid being charged. 


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Jalen Isley

Publication of "Picture of Dorian Gray"

1890

Oscar Wilde published "Picture of Dorian Gray" in 1890, a year after the Cleveland Street Raid. Many of the reviews on the novel were more in a reaction to the most recent scandal than an actual reaction to the novel itself. it was not unknown knowledge that Oscar Wilde was gay but due to his high status, that was before the trials happened, no one truly wanted to place charges against him. It would have caused more disruption amongst the high-class social circle than it would do any court any good. After the trials of Wilde, many bookstores pulled him from their sleeves, following suit as the rest of London did when he was found guilty of gross indecency. 


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Jalen Isley

Wilde on Trial

26 Apr 1895

Oscar Wilde was on trial a grand total of three times. The first trial was when he sued Lord Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, when he accused him of libel, the written form of defamation of character. The card stated, "For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite". Wilde went to trial to defend his name but Queensberry was already ahead of him. He hired detectives to collect evidence to prove that Wilde indeed was gay. By the time Wilde dropped the charges, it was already too late, leading to him being charged with sodomy and gross indecency. His second trial was on the previous charges stated however due to lack of corruption or reliability in the witnesses, those charges were dropped. In his last trial, he was found guilty of gross indecency and was sentenced to two years of hard labor. It is argued that the more social repercussion of being dismissed from high society and his work never taken seriously again was a much longer sentence.


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Jalen Isley

Cleveland Street Scandal

Publication of "Picture of Dorian Gray"

Wilde on Trial

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TimelineJS

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Date Event Created by Associated Places
1889

Cleveland Street Scandal

In 1889, Charles Hammon ran a male brothel at No 19 Cleveland Street in London. Sexual activities with men were illegal throughout London; however, sexual activities between women were not unlawful. When the police investigated further into the brothel and found several elites of high London society, Lord Arthur Somerset, also known as the Prince of Wales, as one of the patrons. Londoners believed that the police brought no charges in response to that matter due to its embarrassment. Not only would the country be embarrassed, but the families of those caught in the scandal would have their lives changed forever. In the case of Wilde, when it was discovered that he did not deny sleeping with men and young boys in his trial, all of his writings were pulled from bookshelves. Few books were sold in pornographic stores. Many suspects had the charges against them dropped or fled the country to avoid being charged. 

 Jalen Isley
1890

Publication of "Picture of Dorian Gray"

Oscar Wilde published "Picture of Dorian Gray" in 1890, a year after the Cleveland Street Raid. Many of the reviews on the novel were more in a reaction to the most recent scandal than an actual reaction to the novel itself. it was not unknown knowledge that Oscar Wilde was gay but due to his high status, that was before the trials happened, no one truly wanted to place charges against him. It would have caused more disruption amongst the high-class social circle than it would do any court any good. After the trials of Wilde, many bookstores pulled him from their sleeves, following suit as the rest of London did when he was found guilty of gross indecency. 

 Jalen Isley
26 Apr 1895

Wilde on Trial

Oscar Wilde was on trial a grand total of three times. The first trial was when he sued Lord Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, when he accused him of libel, the written form of defamation of character. The card stated, "For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite". Wilde went to trial to defend his name but Queensberry was already ahead of him. He hired detectives to collect evidence to prove that Wilde indeed was gay. By the time Wilde dropped the charges, it was already too late, leading to him being charged with sodomy and gross indecency. His second trial was on the previous charges stated however due to lack of corruption or reliability in the witnesses, those charges were dropped. In his last trial, he was found guilty of gross indecency and was sentenced to two years of hard labor. It is argued that the more social repercussion of being dismissed from high society and his work never taken seriously again was a much longer sentence.

 Jalen Isley