Wilde's Gallery of Important Works

One of Wilde's many highly satirical comedic plays reveals the often troubling roles required of Victorian women. This play revolves around an unwed woman named Mrs. Arbuthnot who has a son, but is believed to be a widow. The turn of events In the story leads her son to meet and be offered a job by his biological father, Lord Illingworth, which leads him to make the decision of whether he should accept the job or show his loyalty to his mother by not taking the job. This work was published on April 19th, 1893, and first performed at the Haymarket Theatre in London.

The only novel written by Wilde was first published in 1890, but then later published again in 1891 with an additional six chapters. This book tells the story of a young man who purchases eternal youth at the expense of giving up his soul. The focus of the story is around a portrait done by artist Basil Hallward and is his depiction of Dorian Gray. Dorian is told this picture will remind him of himself at his peak beauty when he eventually grows old. After some time, Dorian realizes how the portrait has changed, showing his sin and troubled life and as his downward spiral continues, his…

In this essay which was written by Wilde in 1891, he argues that under capitalism "the majority of people spoil their lives by an unhealthy and exaggerated altruism—are forced, indeed, so to spoil them" believing this only creates more problems in society and wastes time. He writes that people only want to solve the symptoms of capitalism and not capitalism itself. He believes that no one's life will improve without reconstructing society and that socialism may be the key in ending material poverty. He discusses everything from Jesus Christ's teachings to the brutal criticism of the press…

Wilde's four-act play written in 1895 centers around a high-class party at the home of Sir Robert Chiltern and his wife, Lady Chiltern. During the party, Lady Chiltern's worst enemy, Mrs. Cheveley, attempts to blackmail Sir Chiltern into her fraudulent scheme which includes building a canal in Argentina. Sir Chiltern cannot refuse due to the damning information Mrs. Cheveley knows about Sir Chiltern which his having to do with buying stock in the Suez Canal just days before British Rule announced its purchase. He made his fortune doing so and does not want to lose his career or marriage…

This play centers around Lady Windermere and her reason to believe her husband, Lord Windermere, is having an affair. This rumor has spread through her community due to his apparent spending on his mistress which she finds is true after looking through his books. Lord Windermere gaslights his wife and tells her what she's heard isn't true, but goes onto try to invite his mistress, Mrs. Erlynne, to Lady Windermere's birthday ball. The play takes an interesting turn when the reader/viewer realizes that Mrs. Erlynne is Lady Windermere's mother who abandoned her as a child, but goes onto help…