Why Don't You...

take this Wilde idea a step further and compare his world with ours.  Politically.   

Wilde was not only part of, he was a central figure of the slow-moving, slower-minded Victorian society.  We, on the other hand, have come a long way in accepting other's unique individuality. Though it's taken ions to accomplish (and we're still in the midst of it now: GOODBYE DOMA!), we can no longer legally shun, imprison and mark any homosexual as a social pariah.  

WHY?

Because we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Wilde was unable to obtain a lasting happiness because of his societal barriers.  Let's learn from his tragic example and take lengths to ensure the lasting, full happiness of all.  

And if the constitutional framework of our country doesn't satisfy you to, maybe a bit of pop culture will...

Because...
When you love, who you love
Who you love
You love, who you love
Who you love
Yeah, you love, who you love
Who you love

Why Don't You...

close your eyes and imagine Wilde's fondest dreams coming true.  What are his dreams, you may ask? 

Now that you've listened to a song on dreaming, can you guess what his were?

Why, spending all of his time with the man of his dreams of course!  And who was that? Lord Alfred Douglas. He wanted to be with him legally, morally, emotionally, physically and, greatest of all (or most tragic however you look at it) lovingly.

If you haven't guessed it by now, Oscar Wilde was a homosexual man living in a homophobic society. How homophobic?  Once caught for involving himself in homosexual activity, Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labor, was shunned by his society and never recovered.  He died alone just three years after being released.  

Three years.

And alone.

How could this have happened?  Wasn't Wilde just developing his own unique—however progressive and revolutionary—individuality?  How could he have possibly been punished for this without actually doing harm to anyone else?

Why Don't You...

ask yourself this: Now that you've got a handle on Wilde's persona, what is there to hate?  Sure he may seem over-the-top, but welcome to a life of theatrics! Did he come across as vain, narcissistic and outlandish? That's up to you to decide.  What we should be primarily concerned with is why this magnificent man, quirks and all, was shunned in a society that devoured drama like American's devour fried food.
Oho! he was shunned! you may be stunningly thinking to yourself. Right you are. The man was shunned because his personality was deemed gross, indecent and unwanted.

WHY?

Might this picture offer you a clue?

Hold you're breath, the answer is coming . . .

Why Don't You...

 imagine yourself into Oscar Wilde's impeccably polished shoes for a day?.

To start, here's a roundup on Wilde's state (mentally, emotionally, socially, lunatically and, most importantly, imaginatively) that you'll need to tap into. Buckle up, for you may be repeating these words he sang out over a century ago:

1. I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
2. When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is.
3. I can resist everything but temptation.
4. Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.
5. There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
6. To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
7. No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.
8. It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.
9. I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.
10. A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.

Don't you feel ritzier already?

Most would argue that Wilde hid himself behind a mask, and he may have meant so when he said: "Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." So, during this experiment in patent leather shoes, I'd like you to mask yourself in order to understand how difficult it was for Oscar to do.  Why would he, master of words and now man of myth, hide himself behind a mask of high-class opulence?  Two word: REJECTED PERSONALITY.

Does you're face have a quizzical look on it just about now?  Fasten your silver-buckled Victorian heels and head on up to my newer post where I'll expound (though not nearly as sublime as Oscar might have) on the matter.