Fascinated by the Poetry of his Mother, Oscar Wilde became a Successful Author

Robert Lowell is commonly regarded as a highly influential American writer during the 20th century. From our discussions in class, we know that Robert Lowell was born into a wealthy Massachusetts family that could trace its roots back to the original settlers from the Mayflower, and included many famous and influential historical figures. Because of his family’s wealth, it may have seemed on the surface that Robert Lowell had a perfect life, and was free to pursue all his options. However, his poetry gives us an insight into his life as a child and the wrecked relationship between himself and his parents. As we have discussed several times in class, Lowell’s parents were largely absent both physically and emotionally and did not give him the attention he needed as a child. This resulted in a youth characterized by rebelling against his parents wishes in a cry for help and attention. Robert Lowell also discusses in detail the relationship he had with his grandfather, and the comfort and security that he was able to feel whenever he was with his grandfather. Through several poems, such as “My Last Afternoon With Uncle Devereux Wilson”, we can see that being in the presence of his grandfather allowed him to be released from his parents and feel welcome and loved. Growing up in Boston also had a significant impact on his poetry, as most of his poems take place somewhere in New England and focus on his experiences with the people and famous landmarks throughout New England.

Hughes graduated from high school in 1920 and then lived with his father in Mexico. He decided to move to New York to attend Columbia University. By this time Hughes had already had some work published in newspapers as well as journals. Though, he eventually dropped out he went on to live in Paris where he continued to develop and write poetry. Langston showed his work to Lindsay and he was so impressed that he was

Hughes' parents split up soon after his birth. His father left for Mexico and Hughes was primarily raised by his grandmother until her death. This situation of Hughes being separated from his parents, then the death of his grandmother in his late teens influenced his writing. After the death of his grandmother, Hughes moved with his mother to Cleveland, Ohio. There, he was introduced to poetry.

Their father also read Dante and the Bible to them frequently. Williams was taught around literature and arts. When Williams was a teenager his mother, Raquel took he and his brother, Edgar to for two years so they could study in Switzerland and France. They went to the Château de Lancy close to Geneva and the Lycée Condorcet in Paris. After Williams’s made their way back to the United States in 1899, their father, William Gorge enrolled them into Horace Mann High School. In this most important time period, Williams found his love for poetry at Horace Mann High School. He also had other interest in school; he like mathematics and science. His parents pushed him to be a perfectionist and a hard worker to accomplish these dreams of success that they had for him.

Aunt Mary Moody Emerson, his aunt, was the dominant influence of Emerson 's childhood and youth. She had no formal education, although she was extremely intelligent and sharp. She was well read and read often. A moderate "Channing Unitarian,"(Shulman, Frank “Ralph Waldo Emerson”). The poverty in which the Emerson family lived, did not stop his mother from sending him to the best schools. The best schools included Boston Latin for high school and for college Harvard. When Emerson attended college he was only 14. In college he won several minor prizes for his writing. When he was seventeen he began to keep a journal it lasted for over half a century.(Ralph Waldo Emerson biography Philosopher journalist....Bio.com)

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem Massachusetts. His father died of yellow fever when he was 4 years old and left behind a wife and 3 children. Hawthorne was raised by an abnormal and solitary mother. “He had a leg injury at a young age, which left him not being able to move for months (Biography)”. His leg injury, on the other hand, did not get in the way of what he was dreaming of doing growing up. During the time of his leg injury, Hawthorne developed an interest in reading and writing. He grew up being an enthusiastic reader of poetry and exotic adventure stories. Hawthorne had to overcome a lot of obstacles growing up to become a writer. Despite losing a father and having a leg injury at such a young age, Hawthorne became a successful writer of the American Romantic period.

On February 1, 1902, Langston Hughes was born. He was born “James Langston Hughes.” (Rueben) He was born in Missouri. His parents divorced when he was a younger child. His dad left and went to Mexico. His grandmother had the task to raise him. “He stayed there until he was twelve.” (Hampson) Then his mother wanted him back. So he moved “to Lincoln, Illinois […] eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio.” (Anderson, 706) Langston began writing creative poetry in the eight grade. He went on to attend Central High School in Cleveland. “he was a coveted award winner as a teen.” (Reuben) “It was during his high school years that Hughes began to take poetry seriously.” (Reuben) Langston was becoming one of the most predominant writing figures of the time. “The most important early influence on Hughes’ poetry was Carl Sandburg […]”. (Anderson, 706) But “his father did not think he would be able to make a living as a writer.” (Jackson) He wanted him to pursue a career in engineering. So he came up with the idea to go to Columbia University, where he knew he could be close to Harlem. His passion for writing and desire to see Harlem led him to disobey his dad.

His first pieces of literature were published in a school magazine called Monthly, and later, he earned a spot on their staff. While working there, he himself published many more works in the magazine. Before he started his 12th grade year, his father reached out to him. Hughes then spent the summer with him in Toluca, Mexico and did not enjoy it. They did not get along at all, being that his father entered his life so late. This ultimately helped mature Hughes, and when he entered 12th grade, his poems actually signified something. He wanted to go to Columbia University in New York City to get his college education and to start his writing career, but to do that, he needed money. After he graduated high school, he sought out for his father in Mexico, hoping that he would be open to the idea of paying a year’s tuition to Columbia. Passing the Mississippi River on his way there, he wrote The Negro Speaks of Rivers after contemplating the past and future events in his life. When he arrived to Mexico, his father told Hughes that he wanted him to become an engineer, not a writer. Hughes impressed his father when he submitted his works into various publication companies and then got published. He agreed to pay a year’s worth tuition for Columbia University. He went to Columbia in 1921, a year after he graduated from high

Hughes’s childhood was an extreme struggle. His father left the family just after Hughes was born. His mother struggled to support their little family. “He spent many years living with various relatives and family friends as his mother traveled in search of work. When she was remarried and secure in 1914, he joined her in Cleveland, Ohio. At Central High School, he proved himself as a student and an athlete, and began writing poetry and short fiction for the school's literary magazine” (“Langston Hughes” Exploring Short Stories). Critics of his time suggested that because of his father’s absence, Hughes was so bitter about the reality of life and following dreams.

Walt Whitman was born in 1819, a second son to a housebuilder and one of 9 children. He worked as a printer at an early age, this is where he became enamored with the written word. Working as a printer in New York until a fire devastated the printing section of the city he was self-taught reading the works of Homer, Dante and the Bible. Whitman worked as a teacher for several years before becoming a journalist, full-time and establishing the paper The Long Islander. He worked as an editor for several papers before moving to New Orleans to become the editor of The Crescent where he first experienced the reality of the slave trade. Returning to his hometown of Brooklyn in Long Island he founded the newspaper the Brooklyn Freeman and continued

Wilde jeers at the corrupt mind-sets of the Victorian Era by making the stiff beliefs of his community

Walt Whitman is one of americas greatest poet’s. He was born on long Island at a time before it became a city it was all fields and farms at that time. He left school at age 11; but he kept on educating himself especially he was reading the works of emerson who was a famous author and lecturer. Whitman worked as a newspaper editor in Manhattan but he had the hope and desire to become a Poet. He read emersons essay, “the Poet”, and he started to work on his most famous of all his works which was called “Leave’s of Grass”. It was not a hit at-the-time, the public mostly called it scandalous; because it dealt in part with sexual desire and passion. However, he sent a copy of it to emerson, Emerson was one of the few who praised it. Whitman

Oscar Wilde is an author known for his use of mixing comedy into witty remarks, talking about relationships, making the reader question things about life and also using gothic writing styles that differ than any other writers during his time. He also shows us how his characters in his writings act to tells us about his childhood.

E.E. Cummings was born on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts (E.E Cummings, poets.org 1). Cummings began was an early developer and learner and began writing around the age of 10 (1). He was the son of Rebecca Haswell Clarke and Edward Cummings (Berry, S.L. 29). He had one sister, Elizabeth Cummings, who he loved dearly and played with all the time. He and his father had an inseparable bond, Cummings described his dad as a hero and that they were very close. (29). Cummings being such an early developer had no problem with school and went to a private school where he continued to read and write (10). His reading level was extremely high (10)! Cummings studied many different languages consisting of Latin, French, and Greek (10). As a senior Cummings wrote and was the editor of the schools newspaper (10). When he was 15 years old he did the unbelievable and went to Harvard University (14). While in college Cummings loved to go to circuses and ballets (14). While balancing college and school work Cummings was a romantic (14). He also turned out to be an astonishing dancer (14).When Cummings, who was around twenty, was done earning his degrees and graduating he was ready to leave Massachusetts (15).

Throughout the years, there have been many people have tried to come up with their own ideas for life that have failed. Some may have been closer to the truth than others. Many writers expressed these theories of theirs in their writings, creating a large amount of literature reflecting their anomalous opinions. The Dubliner Oscar Wilde portrayed his hedonistic struggles his writings. Hedonism tainted Wilde’s life and was thoroughly reflected in his writings. These hedonistic views are painted across his countless essays. Weighed with this bondage Wilde postponed a long needed conversion. Struggling with these difficulties right up to the end. Extravagance occupied Wilde’s stories in the form of hedonism. All of Oscar Wilde’s writings reflect his life in a personal way most largely in the aspect of Wilde’s hedonism also his torn conscience was greatly reflected in them too (Pearce 241; Ellmann 66).