How Oscar Wilde got “canceled”.
- lillithpatzer
- Oct 13, 2024
- 7 min read
It is May 25, 1895, and we are in the impressive Central Criminal Court (also known as the Old Baileys ), where Judge Alfred Wills is just passing his sentence. Two years in prison with additional hard labor is the maximum sentence allowed, but in his eyes it is far too short.
The "crime" of homosexuality (formerly called sodomy ) was the worst offense he had ever had to deal with.
The defendant - Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde - had "lost all sense of shame". The answer of the otherwise charming, eloquent man was almost choked with tears: "And me? May I not say anything, my lord?"
The beginning of the end ...
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... began with Wilde's encounter with Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas (also known as Bosie), the third son of the Marquis of Queensberry. Douglas had recently read "The Picture of Dorian Grey" and now wanted to get to know the polarizing author. Lionel Johnson , a mutual friend of the two, introduced them in 1891. At 37, Wilde was quite a bit older than the 21-year-old Lord Douglas.
There are different versions of how the two men became closer in the following months. Constance , Wilde's wife, and his two children Cyril and Vyvyan did not interfere. It was common for men and women in Victorian England to spend their time separately. For example, husbands and sons would hang out in gentlemen's clubs, while wives and daughters would stroll through parks and gardens.
The fact is that from May 1892 onwards, Wilde made no secret of his infatuation with the young handsome man. Douglas, described by contemporaries as spoiled, reckless, cheeky and extravagant, expected Wilde to support his penchant for gambling (financially). In the course of his courtship, Wilde spent the equivalent of 500,000 euros on Douglas over a period of around three years. At first, this was apparently no problem - Wilde also landed his first major theatre hit during this time, which secured him an income of the equivalent of 7,000 - 8,000 euros per week.
Since his conviction also resulted in a ban on speaking and writing, as well as the immediate withdrawal of all his plays, his fortune dwindled rapidly in the face of this extravagance.
When he was released after serving his sentence, he had reached the end of his financial resources.
Queensberry – Wilde 's greatest opponent
Lord Douglas' father, John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marchioness of Queensberry, was dissatisfied with the relationship between the eccentric Oscar Wilde and his son. After meeting him by chance, he was impressed by the author's engaging personality. He even wrote to his son that he now understood why he liked to surround himself with Wilde so often.
However, this positive attitude did not last long; rumors about Wilde's private life, as well as an attempted blackmail against Lord Douglas, hardened Queensberry's renewed suspicions.
He began to stalk the two men, visiting restaurants, hotels or theaters where Wilde and Douglas had been and threatening to create a public scandal against Wilde.
Douglas had left Oxford, the university where he had been studying, without graduating, which again displeased his father. He spent his time translating Wilde's play Salomé (mentioned in my article on the painting of the same name by Lovis Corinth , feel free to take a look) into English. Oscar Wilde was Irish by birth, but he was also fluent in French and preferred to write in that language. According to his own statement, he was " French at heart, Irish by birth, and condemned by the English to speak the language of Shakespeare". I should add, however, that Douglas was only moderately successful in this endeavour. He translated some passages incorrectly. He changed "On ne doit regarder que dans les miroirs" (One should only look in mirrors) to "One must not look in mirrors".
On April 1, 1893, the Marquis of Queensberry carried out his threat to "make a public scandal in a way you little dream of," although the waters seemed to have calmed down for the time being after the three gentlemen had another meal together.
He publicly accused Wilde of sodomy, more or less directly. He claimed that Wilde, even if he was not a sodomite, "posed like one" and that was just as bad. Meanwhile, there was a lively exchange of letters between father and son, in which it became clear that the fronts were clearly hardening. Among other things, Queensberry threatened to cut off his son's financial support. Wild insults were thrown around, and things were getting serious.
Added to this was the tragic death of the Marquis' first son and Alfred's eldest brother, Francis Viscount Drumlanrig . He died of a gunshot wound in a hunting accident. However, well-informed circles speculated that it was a suicide, as there were rumours of an affair with the Prime Minister Lord Rosebery. circulated.
With two of his sons now in a negative public light and the situation between Douglas and his father couldn't have been worse, Queensberry felt compelled to act.
Two months later, the Marquis, a promoter of boxing and namesake of the Queensberry Rules , appeared with a prizefighter outside Wilde's flat in Tite Street. He threatened Wilde with a beating if he was seen in public with his son again.
The answer with which Wilde countered, as always, is known to many today:
"I don't know what the Queensberry rules say, but the Oscar Wilde rule says to shoot on the spot."
Another notable act of harassment by the Marquis was foiled by Wilde. He had planned to interrupt the theatre performance Douglas and Wilde were attending with a basket of rotten vegetables and throw his present at them. His son got wind of this, and Wilde was able to call the police. As a result, Queensberry was denied entry to the theatre and the theatre-goers enjoyed the performance without any mouldy cabbage.
"Dear Robbie..."
On the left is a business card from the Marquis of Queensberry, bearing the inscription "For Oscar Wilde, posing sodomite". Douglas's father left the card at the Albemarle Club , where it was given to Wilde ten days later.
Completely enraged, Wilde wrote the following lines to his good friend, close confidant – and probably first lover:
Dearest Robbie, A lot has happened since we last saw each other. Bosie's father left a card at my club with a disgusting message. I see no other way out now than prosecution. It's as if my whole life has been ruined by this man. Scum is invading the ivory tower. My life is falling apart. I don't know what to do. If you can, please come by tonight at 11:30 p.m. I'm ruining your life by overtaxing your love and kindness. I've asked Bosie to come tomorrow.
It is noteworthy that he did not immediately consult his current lover, but instead turned to Ross. Although the relationship with Douglas meant that the relationship between Wilde and Ross more or less fizzled out, Wilde probably knew that Ross had a more objective view of the situation than Douglas, who was looking for a fight with his father. In addition, the relationship between Douglas and Wilde was characterized by many ups and downs, which was probably partly due to the large age difference. The two often argued, for example about the aforementioned translation of "Salomé" that was riddled with errors, and even separated, only to get back together afterwards.
So it was certainly his intention to discuss everything calmly with Ross so that he could keep a cool head before the impulsive Alfred Douglas came along.
If his plan had worked, Wilde might never have been convicted.
If his plan had worked, he might not have died prematurely.
If Douglas hadn't arrived before Ross.
When Ross arrived at the hotel, however, he found Wilde already there with Douglas. It seemed a done deal, as Wilde said in his letter, to initiate "prosecution." However, given the incriminating circumstances, this was not a good idea. The trial took its course, Wilde's private life became the focus of the investigation, and countless "scandals" were uncovered. Among other things, one of his most successful works , "The Picture of Dorian Gray," was used as "evidence" against him. Male prostitutes testified that Wilde had used their services. All in all, the evidence was overwhelming, Victorian high society was shaken, and Wilde's reputation was irreparably destroyed. Although homosexuality, especially among men at that time, was not uncommon, it was even generally tolerated - as long as everything took place behind closed doors and one could easily suppress it.
The libel suit that Oscar Wilde originally brought against the Marquis of Queensberry to restore his reputation ultimately turned against him; after the Marquis was acquitted, he countersued in a disastrous way. Moreover, under previous libel law, Wilde had to pay all the costs that the Marquis had spent on the case, which, together with his own expenses for the trial, plunged him into financial ruin.
The plaintiff became the defendant. At the end of his sentence, his former glory had left him, leaving behind a broken man.
Oscar Wilde died impoverished in exile in Paris, three and a half years after his release. Although he was unable to speak shortly before his death due to illness - he succumbed to meningitis - he is said to have made frequent comments about his imminent demise in the weeks before his death. This gave rise to two well-known quotes:
"My wallpaper and I are engaged in a duel to the death. One of us must go."
or the lesser known statement
"I'm dying beyond my means. I can't even afford to die."
Even though Oscar Wilde was ostracized throughout his life, his image has been portrayed in a new, better light over time. His works are now part of world literature, while the life of the decadent writer, literary critic and aesthete has no less interesting twists and turns.
Pictures show Oscar Wilde (with Alfred Douglas)
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