Oscar Mayer

Controversy and literature have long been intertwined. Most art of any kind that seeks notoriety and not simple mediocrity aims for controversial status in hopes of more exposure. Oscar Wilde alluded to this but extended it even further in a quote from one of his most famous works, “There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written." Such equivalences between morality and simple controversy are problematic. Moreover, I could not disagree more with the

Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband focuses on the timeless issue of public perception of public figures, the tendency to idealize those in the public eye, and to turn on those who make mistakes. Much of the plot could conceivably occur within modern American politics. Like those of Wilde’s 1890s London, modern politicians must contend with pitfalls associated with morality, corruption, and invasive media coverage. The American public holds politicians to a higher moral standard than they hold themselves

In her article, “Oscar Wilde’s Humorous Manipulation of Discourse With Elaborate Politeness” in The Importance of Being Earnest, Cristina Rodriguez Ravelo claims that author’s humorous arguments in the story rely mainly on the comical flow that Oscar Wilde expresses in the way he delivers his writings. Near the end of the Second Act, Wilde introduces the phrase “elaborate politeness,” which appears throughout the story and changes the way I visualize Wilde’s brilliant and manipulative ways of articulating

open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, drips with this beautiful description that may infact be ironic. Pared with this delicate depiction throughout the book are abundant witty epigrams. And the whole story, when read closely, truly mocks society’s heavy value that it puts on the physical appearance. Oscar Wilde uses epigrams in his writing in order to create a lighter, more entertaining mood that will

The short story “Romero’s Shirt” authored by Dagoberto Gilb shows us an example of a man who in an instance has a change of character and feels that he has changed but an unexpected loss throws him back into his pessimistic ways. Gilb highlights Romero’s day off performing chores on a slightly chilly day outside. Romero fears of harming his favorite shirt so he takes it off to continue his work. During his duties an old man approaches Romero asking for work in exchange for some money and food. Romero

Morality of the Upper Class in Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermeres Fan Lady Windermere's Fan is a witty commentary on the wiles of social properness in late 19th century England. Oscar Wilde was a flamboyant homosexual understandably critical of the norms of his day. Within the play, lie subtle and overt contradictions about the "properness" of the high born upper-class. During the Victorian period, strict rules governed mannerisms, protocol, etiquette, decency, etc. This decorum became too oppressive

Societal Standards in The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde was an extraterrestrial figure in a world accustomed to normality and invariability. Wilde was a homosexual in a time period where such behavior was not tolerated by any means. He was arrested a year after writing The Importance of Being Earnest on charges of indecency, with the fact of his homosexuality in mind (Staff). Funnily enough, The Importance of Being Earnest was a well liked play in the time area, even though it was fraught

Wilde’s protagonist Dorian does not command the same level of sympathy from the reader that Eugenides’ Cal does, perhaps due to Dorian’s arrogance. Whilst reading “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, I felt little sympathy towards the protagonist Dorian, due to his constant drug use, sinfulness and entitlement to be able to do those things without bearing the marks of evil. A group of critics have labelled this novel as a moralistic tale, warning readers against the danger of selfishness, and superficiality

Vice and virtue are to the artist materials for an art” (Wilde 2) and Wilde approached the same in bold and direct ways. In one of his most famous lines, Wilde sets the ground for his novel “there is no such thing as a moral or immoral book”. When his novel was published in the year 1890, it faced much controversies and condemn. Wilde was charged for corrupting the youth with the ideas of homosexuality and licentiousness. Despite the audacious narrative, Wilde conformed to his beliefs that art should

“A picture is worth a thousand words”. The true personality of a person can be revealed through their character and actions unlike their words. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray focuses on the corruption that envelops Dorian when he exchanges his soul for everlasting youth and beauty. Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, thoroughly demonstrates Dorian’s narcissism as it grows throughout the book and the struggle between good and evil as Lord Henry Wotton, one of his friends, negatively