Oscar Wilde Research Paper

Human beings possess several virtues that differentiate them from other creatures and can use them in ways that represent their perceptions of social order. Surprisingly, Oscar Wilde believes that disobedience is an original virtue of every human and that it is responsible for progress and development. While Wilde’s claim is not entirely accurate, it is largely valid as evidenced by the recent events across the world, including the US, that have led to positive outcomes in spite of being termed and perceived as acts of disobedience.

Disobedience has promoted social progress various times in the past by allowing people to speak up against an unjust government. For example, Henry Thoreau in “Civil Disobedience” brought up the role of disobedience in the American Revolution when he stated, “All men recognize the right of revolution… to resist, the government, when its tyranny are great and unendurable” (Thoreau 3). Consequently, disobedience was necessary in the American Revolution in order for the colonists to gain independence from the British government, after all the unjust treatment that the colonists endured, such as excessively high

Disobedience is an important force in our society and helps bring about necessary social progress because it will lead to superior lives for its citizens. Oscar Wilde believed that through disobedience there is man’s original virtue. He asserts that civil disobedience promotes social progress. I agree with Wilde's belief because looking throughout centuries, society has shown a variety of situations with the act of practicing disobedience,and have achieved their goal.

“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” Henry David Thoreau, a well known essayist, wrote: Walden. Thoreau supports Wilde’s claim of disobedience promoting social progress. He mentions that people who live in obedience are not living at all. Progress is defined as a forward or onward movement toward a destination. The only way society can progress is through evolution, as people grow from a simple neanderthal to complex modern humans like us. And in order to evolve, there must be a break in pattern: disobedience-failure or refusal to obey rules in authority. There is no development if everyone is a collective mind. Examples are seen in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 with the protagonist, Montag,

Obedience is a trait that is taught in schools, cherished by parents, and respected by society. Disobedience, on the other hand, is frowned upon and generally discouraged in society. Many argue that this trait has adverse effects on society. Oscar Wilde, a prominent play writer during the 1890’s, argues that disobedience is a valuable trait that has changed the world. Although many do not see disobedience as a virtue, Wilde does. Wilde’s statement is valid because disobedience is a rare, yet remarkable characteristic that is essential in improving the world.

I strongly agree with what Oscar Wilde’s statement. Stating that “disobedience is man’s original virtue” is saying that we as people know more about disobedience than anything else. Many people would say that disobedience holds a great deal with the way people carry themselves. To not accept disobedience, you will have to work really hard on how you can change that and make things better. There are many different types of disobedience. For example, there is civil disobedience which carries a great deal with the law and how you act to the laws.

The author exemplifies the ways that disobedience helps the society and its contribution to furthering the human race but notes on the fact that blind obedience may eventually account for the end of civilization.

In 1891, Irish author Oscar Wilde observed,” Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience and through rebellion. Sometimes negatives bring positives.

This quote sparks interest due to disobedience often containing a negative connotation. However, in this quote disobedience is honorable, and to be called disobedient is a compliment. According to Wilde, disobedience is beneficial and without it social progress could not be made. Without disobedience, society is unable to change or improve from past mistakes. Without rebellion or disobedience, what will promote people to act on their injustices? Rebellion and disobedience are beneficial in promoting social progress. Through it, citizens are able to bring issues and injustices they want acknowledged to the forefront. Through these ways, they try to make the world a better place for everyone and to bring people to the realization as to why the issues that they face are at fault and that they should be restored.

Disobedience is a necessary human trait needed to rebel against unjust authority, to see unfairness in a society that prefers one type of person, and to do the right thing in the face of the law. Irish author, Oscar Wilde, wrote in 1891 that disobedience is a valuable human trait that’s necessary to progress, which is a sentiment that holds true to this day.

Disobedience, in today’s culture, is inherently generalized to be something negative. However, there are times when disobedience is not just wrong, but desperately needed. Disobedience is the main cause of both social and political change. Thus Oscar Wilde’s claim that disobedience is a valuable human and that it prompts social progress - is most certainly correct and examples of it can be seen in both the American Revolution and the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In these two examples we see that there is a right time to disobey as well as a right reason.

Civil disobedience comes in every package under the sun. Whether it be Henry David Thoreau refusing to pay his taxes to protest the Mexican-American War or Mohammed Ali refusing the draft because he believed that they were sending him to fight for rights in another country that he didn’t have in his own. The importance of civil disobedience, particularly in those with influence over the people, is often overshadowed by opposition leaders and naysayers on the other side of the argument. But civil disobedience has kept America moving forward for over 240 years and it won’t be stopping any time soon.

Disobedience has been a man’s virtue ever since laws have been constructed. As a progression that has developed in our society , it is safely to indicate that disobedience is morally acceptable by the common people. In order for change, people have demonstrated  disobedience successfully to promote social progress, change is impossible without disobedience.Our society has failed to realize that there is no such thing a “perfect society”. There are people in our society who agree with change and would sacrifice themselves for it through violence and multiple times of rejection. Many individuals known as the majority simply do not like change. This majority is the group that construct these laws that we must follow.  Thoreau states ,” A majority is permitted , and for a long period continue, to rule, is not because they are mostly likely right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority,  but because they are physically the strongest.” Although we do perceive the system as the strongest, citizens still use disobedience to challenge the system’s authority. Disobedience is a man’s virtue when our natural rights are being violated by the majority . In order for change to occur the common people must use disobedience to fight the injustice in their society to promote social progress.

Oscar Wilde defended that disobedience is a beneficial human trait and it boosts social progress. Disobedience is indeed a valuable human characteristic because it could lead to individuals to stand up for what they believe in, learn right from wrong, and allows society to progress. Quite often, disobedience is seen as a dishonorable or bad thing

Oscar Wilde recognizes that ‘’ Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress had been made, through disobedience and through rebellion’’. This excerpt can be interpreted as though progress can not be made unless the people revolt and the leaders know how to prevent it the next time. This form of rebellion takes place in the play ‘’Julius Caesar ‘’ by Shakespeare where the council killed Caesar for the benefit of Rome. While one of the main characters, Antony, wouldn’t support this claim, the others, Brutus and Cassius, would support this theory.