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The Plays of Oscar Wilde
This Vintage edition of The Plays of Oscar Wilde contains the plays that made Wilde one of the most important dramatists of his time, including The Importance of Being Earnest, one of the great works of modern literature.
Oscar Wilde's plays demonstrate once again why their author must be seen as both an inaugurator and a master of modernism. In his best work, the subversive insights embedded in his wit continue to challenge our common assumptions. Wilde's ability to unsettle and startle us anew with his radical vision of the artifice inherent in the self's construction makes him our contemporary.
This edition is introduced by John Lahr, author of Prick Up Your The Biography of Joe Orton. The plays included are Lady Windermere's Fan, Salome, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest.
Oscar Wilde's plays demonstrate once again why their author must be seen as both an inaugurator and a master of modernism. In his best work, the subversive insights embedded in his wit continue to challenge our common assumptions. Wilde's ability to unsettle and startle us anew with his radical vision of the artifice inherent in the self's construction makes him our contemporary.
This edition is introduced by John Lahr, author of Prick Up Your The Biography of Joe Orton. The plays included are Lady Windermere's Fan, Salome, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1895
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2615 people want to read
About the author
Oscar Wilde
5,482 books38.8k followersOscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his criminal conviction for gross indecency for homosexual acts.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
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December 18, 2025
Leer a Oscar Wilde es extremadamente edificante, enriquecedor y sublime. Su destreza literaria y su genialidad son indiscutidas y sigue siendo uno de los ejemplos de lo que significa leer la mejor literatura del mundo.
Su única novela "El retrato de Dorian Gray" sigue siendo aclamada como una de las mejores de toda la historia, su costado poético es sublime y elevado y sus obras de teatro continúan con una vigencia tal, que pareciera que las escribió hace pocos días.
Oscar Wilde le aportó frescura y dotó de originalidad al teatro inglés moderno, que acostumbraba a representar obras francesas o poner en escena las más afamadas piezas de William Shakespeare y no tenía una distinción propia.
Supo escribir comedias que se representaron en esos días en todos los teatros ingleses, lo que provocó en este sentido que con el ingenio y el dominio de las artes escénicas un escritor o dramaturgo podía escribir verdaderas obras de arte.
Pero este fue el caso de él, que como pionero sentó las bases y a partir de allí catapultó su fama en proporciones épicas apostando siempre a la pureza del Arte por sobretodas las cosas.
No hay obra de teatro de Wilde que no esté cargada de fina ironía, humor ácido y sutilezas constantes y en ello reside su genialidad. Todos los temas que trata en sus comedias son frescos, divertidos y picarescos. Posee un dominio total de sus personajes y los hace actuar para que entre ellos le aporten una dinámica a la obra que hace que el interés e incluso el suspenso no decaigan durante toda la performance.
Este libro posee todas la obras teatrales de Oscar Wilde, desde "Vera, o los nihilistas", ambientada en la Rusia zarista y con un argumento de alianzas y traiciones que nada tienen que envidiarle a Shakespeare, pasando por "Una tragedia florentina "y "La duquesa de Padua", ambientadas en el siglo XVI hasta la famosa representación en un solo acto de "Salomé", que en su momento generó cierto revuelo por la naturaleza de lo que en ella se llevaba adelante.
Esta breve obra en la que Oscar Wilde toma de un relato bíblico es concisa, efectiva y de final atrapante, con personajes góticos inmersos dentro de un teatro griego, donde Salomé descolla por su magnetismo sexual, que atrae incestuosamente a Herodes, su padre, mientras ella se desvive por Jokanaán, o Juan el Bautista.
De todas maneras y sin desmerecer a "Salomé", lo mejor de Wilde se desarrolla a partir de las obras de teatro emplazadas en su propia época, conformada por sus cuatro mejores representaciones: "El abanico de lady Windermere", "Una mujer sin importancia", "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto" (o también llamada "La importancia de ser formal", puesto que Wilde juega con el nombre propio Ernest y el término "earnest", que significa formal, serio) y "Un marido ideal".
A mi entender, "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto", denominada por Wilde como una "una comedia trivial para gente sería" es la mejor de todas, dado que además de ser fascinantemente entretenida, y más allá de ser una comedia, Wilde le aporta recursos clásicos propios de la tragedia griega, fundamentalmente los de la peripecia, en donde los personajes giran en torno a un gran secreto o misterio que es develado en el momento preciso causando gran regocijo sobre el final de la obra.
Considero que "El abanico de lady Windermere" y "Una mujer sin importancia" también son maravillosas, pero quedan un par de peldaños por debajo de Ernesto. Lo mismo para "Un marido ideal", a la que la crítica consideró la más importantes de sus comedias (y la más extensa también).
Estas cuatro obras están plagadas de frases ingeniosas que no son más que una extensión de la mente de Wilde disfrazada en sus personajes.
De esta forma, la ironía es el arma que este genio utiliza para disparar a diestra y siniestra sus dardos incisivos y mordaces, muy especialmente hacia sus detractores más encarnizados, como de darle una bofetada a la pacatería de la sociedad victoriana de sus días.
La gran mayoría de las frases de Wilde están montadas sobre la paradoja, y esta características es la que dotaron a este autor de una originalidad sin comparaciones, que lo distinguen de muchos otros intelectuales.
Wilde es todo irreverencia sin caer en la soberbia, es irónico sin transformarse en agresivo y supo siempre controlar su actitud desafiante ante los críticos y la sociedad (con un juicio por sodomía y homosexualidad a cuestas) para no caer en el patetismo que muchos escritores no supieron manejar.
En la obra "Una mujer sin importancia" con el personaje de Lord Illingworth, logra conectar directamente con otro afamado personaje, Lord Henry Wotton de su única novela Dorian Gray. Lo mismo que sucede con otros personajes como Lord Goring en "Un marido ideal" y Cecil Graham en "El abanico de lady Windermere".
Hilando fino en la lectura de estas obras el lector descubrirá frases repetidas, pero no por ello estas caen en el auto plagio. Simplemente son frases que quedan perfectamente encajadas dentro del contexto argumental de la obra.
Oscar Wilde supo enfrentar el final de sus días con aplomo, dignidad y la cabeza bien alta. Sumido en una profunda depresión, al borde de la pobreza y abandonado por todos, murió solo en la habitación de un hotel de París, algo que no se merecía, especialmente para un escritor de genialidad incomparable quien, ante las tragedias de su propia vida real supo regalarnos estas maravillosas comedias.
Su única novela "El retrato de Dorian Gray" sigue siendo aclamada como una de las mejores de toda la historia, su costado poético es sublime y elevado y sus obras de teatro continúan con una vigencia tal, que pareciera que las escribió hace pocos días.
Oscar Wilde le aportó frescura y dotó de originalidad al teatro inglés moderno, que acostumbraba a representar obras francesas o poner en escena las más afamadas piezas de William Shakespeare y no tenía una distinción propia.
Supo escribir comedias que se representaron en esos días en todos los teatros ingleses, lo que provocó en este sentido que con el ingenio y el dominio de las artes escénicas un escritor o dramaturgo podía escribir verdaderas obras de arte.
Pero este fue el caso de él, que como pionero sentó las bases y a partir de allí catapultó su fama en proporciones épicas apostando siempre a la pureza del Arte por sobretodas las cosas.
No hay obra de teatro de Wilde que no esté cargada de fina ironía, humor ácido y sutilezas constantes y en ello reside su genialidad. Todos los temas que trata en sus comedias son frescos, divertidos y picarescos. Posee un dominio total de sus personajes y los hace actuar para que entre ellos le aporten una dinámica a la obra que hace que el interés e incluso el suspenso no decaigan durante toda la performance.
Este libro posee todas la obras teatrales de Oscar Wilde, desde "Vera, o los nihilistas", ambientada en la Rusia zarista y con un argumento de alianzas y traiciones que nada tienen que envidiarle a Shakespeare, pasando por "Una tragedia florentina "y "La duquesa de Padua", ambientadas en el siglo XVI hasta la famosa representación en un solo acto de "Salomé", que en su momento generó cierto revuelo por la naturaleza de lo que en ella se llevaba adelante.
Esta breve obra en la que Oscar Wilde toma de un relato bíblico es concisa, efectiva y de final atrapante, con personajes góticos inmersos dentro de un teatro griego, donde Salomé descolla por su magnetismo sexual, que atrae incestuosamente a Herodes, su padre, mientras ella se desvive por Jokanaán, o Juan el Bautista.
De todas maneras y sin desmerecer a "Salomé", lo mejor de Wilde se desarrolla a partir de las obras de teatro emplazadas en su propia época, conformada por sus cuatro mejores representaciones: "El abanico de lady Windermere", "Una mujer sin importancia", "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto" (o también llamada "La importancia de ser formal", puesto que Wilde juega con el nombre propio Ernest y el término "earnest", que significa formal, serio) y "Un marido ideal".
A mi entender, "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto", denominada por Wilde como una "una comedia trivial para gente sería" es la mejor de todas, dado que además de ser fascinantemente entretenida, y más allá de ser una comedia, Wilde le aporta recursos clásicos propios de la tragedia griega, fundamentalmente los de la peripecia, en donde los personajes giran en torno a un gran secreto o misterio que es develado en el momento preciso causando gran regocijo sobre el final de la obra.
Considero que "El abanico de lady Windermere" y "Una mujer sin importancia" también son maravillosas, pero quedan un par de peldaños por debajo de Ernesto. Lo mismo para "Un marido ideal", a la que la crítica consideró la más importantes de sus comedias (y la más extensa también).
Estas cuatro obras están plagadas de frases ingeniosas que no son más que una extensión de la mente de Wilde disfrazada en sus personajes.
De esta forma, la ironía es el arma que este genio utiliza para disparar a diestra y siniestra sus dardos incisivos y mordaces, muy especialmente hacia sus detractores más encarnizados, como de darle una bofetada a la pacatería de la sociedad victoriana de sus días.
La gran mayoría de las frases de Wilde están montadas sobre la paradoja, y esta características es la que dotaron a este autor de una originalidad sin comparaciones, que lo distinguen de muchos otros intelectuales.
Wilde es todo irreverencia sin caer en la soberbia, es irónico sin transformarse en agresivo y supo siempre controlar su actitud desafiante ante los críticos y la sociedad (con un juicio por sodomía y homosexualidad a cuestas) para no caer en el patetismo que muchos escritores no supieron manejar.
En la obra "Una mujer sin importancia" con el personaje de Lord Illingworth, logra conectar directamente con otro afamado personaje, Lord Henry Wotton de su única novela Dorian Gray. Lo mismo que sucede con otros personajes como Lord Goring en "Un marido ideal" y Cecil Graham en "El abanico de lady Windermere".
Hilando fino en la lectura de estas obras el lector descubrirá frases repetidas, pero no por ello estas caen en el auto plagio. Simplemente son frases que quedan perfectamente encajadas dentro del contexto argumental de la obra.
Oscar Wilde supo enfrentar el final de sus días con aplomo, dignidad y la cabeza bien alta. Sumido en una profunda depresión, al borde de la pobreza y abandonado por todos, murió solo en la habitación de un hotel de París, algo que no se merecía, especialmente para un escritor de genialidad incomparable quien, ante las tragedias de su propia vida real supo regalarnos estas maravillosas comedias.
July 7, 2019
⚫ Vera; or, The Nihilists: 3/5
⚫ The Duchess of Padua: 3/5
⚫ Salomé: 4/5
⚫ Lady Windermere's Fan: 4/5
⚫ A Woman of No Importance: 3/5
⚫ An Ideal Husband: 3.7/5
⚫ The Importance of Being Earnest: 5/5
''Cecily (sweetly): Sugar?
Gwendolen (superciliously): No, thank you. Sugar is not fashionable any more.
Cecily looks angrily at her, takes up the tongs and puts four lumps of suger into the cup.
Cecily (severely): Cake or bread and butter?
Gwendolen (in a bored manner): Bread and butter, please. Cake is rarely seen at the best houses nowadays.
Cecily (cuts a very large slice of cake and puts it on the tray): Hand that to Miss Fairfax.''
Cecily: I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm 100% that bitch.
⚫ La Sainte Courtisane: 4/5
⚫ A Florentine Tragedy: 2.5/5
⚫ The Duchess of Padua: 3/5
⚫ Salomé: 4/5
⚫ Lady Windermere's Fan: 4/5
⚫ A Woman of No Importance: 3/5
⚫ An Ideal Husband: 3.7/5
⚫ The Importance of Being Earnest: 5/5
''Cecily (sweetly): Sugar?
Gwendolen (superciliously): No, thank you. Sugar is not fashionable any more.
Cecily looks angrily at her, takes up the tongs and puts four lumps of suger into the cup.
Cecily (severely): Cake or bread and butter?
Gwendolen (in a bored manner): Bread and butter, please. Cake is rarely seen at the best houses nowadays.
Cecily (cuts a very large slice of cake and puts it on the tray): Hand that to Miss Fairfax.''
⚫ La Sainte Courtisane: 4/5
⚫ A Florentine Tragedy: 2.5/5
April 19, 2018
"It is always with the best intentions that the worst work is done"
After months of me being pestered and pressured by my lovely ever-so sweet friend to read The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, I finally decided to read some of his plays first. And I hate to admit it, but oh lord she was right.
Upon starting the book, I had some concerns...
I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be bored while reading it because I was expecting the writing to be EXTREMELY old and if the writing is off, then I just get bored stiff. However this was not the case at all, it was actually some of the best writing I have ever read in my life. That is why I had such a hard time picking a quote, there are so many quotes in here, that I never would have come up with, but are so accurate. One other quote that really stood out for me was something that was said, if I'm not mistaken, toward the end of Lady Windermere's Fan:
"Experience is the name people give to their mistakes."
This was honestly some of the best work I have ever read and I think it's safe to say that my favourite authors list has just increased by one.
Oh and by the way, the favourite play was The Importance of being Earnest. So if you're going to read a play by Oscar Wilde, read that one.
After months of me being pestered and pressured by my lovely ever-so sweet friend to read The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, I finally decided to read some of his plays first. And I hate to admit it, but oh lord she was right.
Upon starting the book, I had some concerns...
I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be bored while reading it because I was expecting the writing to be EXTREMELY old and if the writing is off, then I just get bored stiff. However this was not the case at all, it was actually some of the best writing I have ever read in my life. That is why I had such a hard time picking a quote, there are so many quotes in here, that I never would have come up with, but are so accurate. One other quote that really stood out for me was something that was said, if I'm not mistaken, toward the end of Lady Windermere's Fan:
"Experience is the name people give to their mistakes."
This was honestly some of the best work I have ever read and I think it's safe to say that my favourite authors list has just increased by one.
Oh and by the way, the favourite play was The Importance of being Earnest. So if you're going to read a play by Oscar Wilde, read that one.
August 9, 2016
{rereading Lady Windermere's Fan, Feb. 2016} I am altering my rating of this play from 4* (see below) to 4½* -- I had forgotten how many wonderful lines there were in the dialogue of this play. These raise it up but I still don't think it is as good as my favorite, The Importance of Being Earnest so I can't give it 5*.
{review from 2012}
I find it difficult to rate collections, as the individual parts almost always vary in quality. For this collection, I thought that I would give a very brief review & a rating for each play...
Lady Windermere's Fan - 4 stars; funny play about the importance (or lack thereof) of appearances re married women & their virtue
Salomé - 3 stars; I like the satire but the Biblical setting just wasn't my thing.
A Woman of No Importance -2½ stars; to be quite honest, this play made so little impression on me that I can't remember what it is about! Time to reread it. August 2016 reread 3½ stars; social commentary about the uneven (unfair) way society & religion treat men & women has some great lines but lacks the light touch Wilde shows in his best plays.
An Ideal Husband - 4½ stars; very good satire about trust & love between a married couple.
The Importance of Being Earnest - 5 stars; so hilariously funny. My favorite of all Wilde' s work
{review from 2012}
I find it difficult to rate collections, as the individual parts almost always vary in quality. For this collection, I thought that I would give a very brief review & a rating for each play...
Lady Windermere's Fan - 4 stars; funny play about the importance (or lack thereof) of appearances re married women & their virtue
Salomé - 3 stars; I like the satire but the Biblical setting just wasn't my thing.
A Woman of No Importance -
An Ideal Husband - 4½ stars; very good satire about trust & love between a married couple.
The Importance of Being Earnest - 5 stars; so hilariously funny. My favorite of all Wilde' s work
January 10, 2021
Vera - 2*
I didn’t really understand the social and political context of this one to be honest. Something about the toxicity of authority/the monarchy I kinda gathered from this? I don’t know. But it was really over dramatic and ended abruptly lmao.
The Duchess of Padua – 3*
This one was pretty funny actually. I mean, it would’ve been better if Ascanio and Guido were gay but what do I know? I liked the discussion of the role of women and social classes. Again, a very over dramatic and abrupt end.
Salomé – 1*
The commentary felt off in this one but I couldn’t really put my finger on why. It felt the same as the others and really repetitive, I got bored.
Lady Windermere’s Fan – 4*
Ok this was funny I actually like this one. It was a lot easier to read because of the language meaning it was a lot lighter and easier to digest. The characters were interesting and the plot easy to follow. God discussion of morality and how no person is strictly good or bad.
A Woman of No Importance – 3*
There were a lot of characters in here I got confused. Good demonstration of the cultural differences between America and England though. Funny and quick paced.
An Ideal Husband – 3*
All my notes say for this is ‘This is so witty haha’ and ‘Plot twists and drama ooo’ so take from that what you will.
Importance of Being Earnest – 3*
I didn’t really care about this one but it was funny. Too many characetrs and they all blurred into one in my head though if we’re being honest.
A Florentine Tragedy – 2*
It feels mean to rate an incomplete play but Wilde isn’t even alive so I’m sure he doesn’t care about my reviews. It had some nice pretty writing but I couldn’t tell you what was happening.
La Sainte Courtisane – 1*
Again, incomplete. Honestly have no idea what I even read.
These were thrilling reviews I know. If you’ve reads this far down – why?
I didn’t really understand the social and political context of this one to be honest. Something about the toxicity of authority/the monarchy I kinda gathered from this? I don’t know. But it was really over dramatic and ended abruptly lmao.
The Duchess of Padua – 3*
This one was pretty funny actually. I mean, it would’ve been better if Ascanio and Guido were gay but what do I know? I liked the discussion of the role of women and social classes. Again, a very over dramatic and abrupt end.
Salomé – 1*
The commentary felt off in this one but I couldn’t really put my finger on why. It felt the same as the others and really repetitive, I got bored.
Lady Windermere’s Fan – 4*
Ok this was funny I actually like this one. It was a lot easier to read because of the language meaning it was a lot lighter and easier to digest. The characters were interesting and the plot easy to follow. God discussion of morality and how no person is strictly good or bad.
A Woman of No Importance – 3*
There were a lot of characters in here I got confused. Good demonstration of the cultural differences between America and England though. Funny and quick paced.
An Ideal Husband – 3*
All my notes say for this is ‘This is so witty haha’ and ‘Plot twists and drama ooo’ so take from that what you will.
Importance of Being Earnest – 3*
I didn’t really care about this one but it was funny. Too many characetrs and they all blurred into one in my head though if we’re being honest.
A Florentine Tragedy – 2*
It feels mean to rate an incomplete play but Wilde isn’t even alive so I’m sure he doesn’t care about my reviews. It had some nice pretty writing but I couldn’t tell you what was happening.
La Sainte Courtisane – 1*
Again, incomplete. Honestly have no idea what I even read.
These were thrilling reviews I know. If you’ve reads this far down – why?
September 16, 2022
- Vera; or, The Nihilists 5/5
- The Duchess of Padua 4.5/5
- Salomé 2/5
- Lady Windermere's Fan 3.5/5
- A Woman of No Importance 2.5/5
- An Ideal Husband 3/5
- The Importance of Being Earnest 4.5/5
- La Sainte Courtisane 2/5
- A Florentine Tragedy 3/5
- The Duchess of Padua 4.5/5
- Salomé 2/5
- Lady Windermere's Fan 3.5/5
- A Woman of No Importance 2.5/5
- An Ideal Husband 3/5
- The Importance of Being Earnest 4.5/5
- La Sainte Courtisane 2/5
- A Florentine Tragedy 3/5
May 23, 2025
vera, the nihilists 4.5⭐️
the duchess of padua 3.5⭐️
salomé 3⭐️
lady windermere’s fan 4⭐️
a woman of no importance 4⭐️
an ideal husband 4⭐️
the importance of being earnest 5⭐️
la sainte courtisane 2.5⭐️
a florentine tragedy 2.5⭐️
4.5 + 3.5 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 2.5 + 2.5 = 33
33 / 9 = 3.7
3.75⭐️
the duchess of padua 3.5⭐️
salomé 3⭐️
lady windermere’s fan 4⭐️
a woman of no importance 4⭐️
an ideal husband 4⭐️
the importance of being earnest 5⭐️
la sainte courtisane 2.5⭐️
a florentine tragedy 2.5⭐️
4.5 + 3.5 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 2.5 + 2.5 = 33
33 / 9 = 3.7
3.75⭐️
May 7, 2024
I like the comedies but the rest was not very appealing. I see why they put this guy in gaol.
August 21, 2016
Vera; or, The Nihilists 3,5/5
The Duchess of Padua 3,5/5
Salome 5/5
Lady Windermere's Fan 4.5/5
A Woman of No Importance 4/5
An Ideal Husband 4/5
The Importance of Being Earnest 5/5
La Sainte Courtisane 4.5/5
A Florentine Tragedy 3/5
Giving the book a 5/5 because I love living in a world where I can buy every play Oscar Wilde's ever written, including excerpts from unfinished works, in a single book for ~2€; and also because some of the plays are truly brilliant.
The Duchess of Padua 3,5/5
Salome 5/5
Lady Windermere's Fan 4.5/5
A Woman of No Importance 4/5
An Ideal Husband 4/5
The Importance of Being Earnest 5/5
La Sainte Courtisane 4.5/5
A Florentine Tragedy 3/5
Giving the book a 5/5 because I love living in a world where I can buy every play Oscar Wilde's ever written, including excerpts from unfinished works, in a single book for ~2€; and also because some of the plays are truly brilliant.
June 28, 2018
Adoro a Wilde
February 4, 2021
My love for this man is endless and the way he uses language is sublime.
October 3, 2022
به نظر من شجاعتِ وایلد در مطرح کردن ایده های جدید و اغلب سنت شکنانه قابل تحسینه، و این واقعیت درکنار توصیفات ظریف و دیالوگ های احساسیِ قشنگ چیزیه که من از نوشته هاش متوجه می شم و دوسش دارم.
June 28, 2022
I loved the importance of being earnest and the woman of no importance. Both of those were funny and exciting. The other plays were ok. Definitely want to read more of the authors plays now.
March 14, 2019
I have made a list of review of each of the plays and fragments that are mentioned in this book – hope you enjoy it and let me know if you (dis)agree with me.
Vera or the Nihilists
In this play an interesting picture of Russia during the 19th century, with the fight between the Nihilists and the czar regime is painted. It involves an exciting plot where love, principles and pride are all tested. Vera is the most wanted nihilist in Moscow and she seems to be a woman of no emotions, but a fire starts burning in her heart for the new czar, who is actually a nihilist too, and consequently this play ends in a melodramatic style.
The duchess of Pauda
Certainly a very dramatic story of another relationship between an authority figure and a normal peasant, fighting for his pride or justice. In this particular play I liked the personality of the Duchess, who tried to actually help the citizens whereas her husband, a typical dictator, did not care whatsoever and only pursued his own pleasures. However, the trail scene and the endless changes of heart of Guido and the Duchess I found very confusing and irritating as well as the ending which resulted in the death of the three main characters.
Salomé
A tragedy in one act, Salomé is a story where sexuality plays the central role. The Jokanaan’s rejection of Salomé deeply hurts her and is the reason why she orders him to be killed. The illustrations of Audrey Beardsley that accompany the play are fantastic and make it a story difficult to forget.
Lady Windermere’s fan
This is exactly the type of play I was expecting from Wilde when I purchased this book. The first three plays took me by surprise, seeing that they focused more on political power and despite the melodramatic love relationships, in my opinion, contained quite little wit and humor. This play however is full of nonsense phrases and criticizes the Victorian upper-class society rules.
A woman of no importance
Another play filled with a tremendous amount of wit and hilarious conversations. In this play Wilde explores the double standard that exists between men and women in the Victorian Era. Women were in no way treated equally and this is explored by depicting Mrs. Arbuthnot’s story, who struggles immensely because of the fact her lover (Lord Illingworth) and the father of her child didn’t marry her. Hester, an American girl, appears in the play and shows how different the British mentality, where all a woman is supposed to do is be a wife, from the American mentality, which values hard work. Overall, once again a brilliant portray of society during Wilde’s period.
An ideal husband
Drama, drama and more drama… This is a classic example of an Oscar Wilde play – honor, relationships and the role of each sex is repeatedly questioned. Misconceptions and past events very nearly seem to make everything fall apart for Sir and Lady Chiltern, but somehow miraculously all scandals are avoided and the story concludes with a happy ending. Dandy Lord Goring is a critical character in the play and themes such as marriage, feminism and aestheticism are deeply explored.
A quote demonstrating Goring’s dandy character: “If there was less sympathy in the world there would be less trouble in the world.”
The Importance of Being Earnest
Absolutely love this play! Incredibly funny, extremely engaging and a story so absurd that it makes you wonder how in the world Wilde was able to come up with it. Each and every conversation is utterly hilarious and fully of Wilde’s famous paradigms. I don’t want to spoil this amazing plot, so I strongly suggest you read it for yourself!
La Sainte Courtisane
This play was actually never finished by Wilde. It touches an interesting topic, namely it discusses losing your belief and turning towards sin. However, in my opinion the changes are a bit too drastic and unrealistic. The Christian hermit is somehow easily convinced to go to “the dark side”, while Myrrhiana (a woman whose sole purpose is to wreck men) suddenly flips her belief system upside down. Even though the play is unfinished, I have to say I think it is one of Wilde’s weakest plays.
A Florentine Tragedy
Another fragment of a play. A Florentine tragedy however, made a different impact on me. Despite the fact that I found the play overall a bit messy, the ending was shocking and completely unexpected. This being said, I don’t think these two fragments are anywhere near the level of brilliance of his social comedies, like the Importance Of Being Earnest for example.
January 5, 2016
I've read The Importance of Being Earnest before, and possibly also A Woman of No Importance, and enjoyed revisiting Wilde's blatant silliness. I also quite enjoyed the introduction (a rarity); it did a good job of contextualizing Wilde's writing without being a capsule biography. I know after reading The Picture of Dorian Gray he can tackle serious themes (though A Woman of No Importance gets pretty sappy in a touching way at the end), but I was not quite prepared for Salome. In the abstract, I should love it: a woman using the threat of the male gaze to get what she wants. But there's so much repetition that it's hard to get the drama of it. There's also the fact that I found that the original French read more easily than the translation.
September 23, 2022
This volume includes all the plays of the Irish writer Oscar Wilde: his early plays, a symbolist drama, his society comedies, and fragments.
I really like his society comedies: Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of no Importance, An Ideal Husband, and , especially , The Importance of Being Earnest, full of social criticism of the Victorian conventions, classism, hollow prejudiced lives.... They are excellent regarding the language through which Oscar Wilde expresses his social criticism with large amounts of humour and irony.
I really like his society comedies: Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of no Importance, An Ideal Husband, and , especially , The Importance of Being Earnest, full of social criticism of the Victorian conventions, classism, hollow prejudiced lives.... They are excellent regarding the language through which Oscar Wilde expresses his social criticism with large amounts of humour and irony.
May 27, 2016
Duchess of Berwick: What do you make of Oscar Wilde’s plays? I am told you look remarkably like him.
Stephen Fry: Plays are not for watching or reading, dear, they’re just for being in.
Duchess: Perfectly true, Mr Fry. Even when one does go to the theater it is merely to show oneself off. But we must write this review I’m afraid.
Vera, or the Nihilists: ✮✮✮½
Mrs Allonby: We can start with Vera and write it off as too melodramatic.
Duchess: But aren’t plays supposed to be that way, dear?
Mrs Allonby: Not at all, they should be a sober background against which we can flaunt our dressess.
Lord Illingworth: And for scenes, misunderstandings and disappointments we have the institution of marriage.
Duchess: All the same, I found good style to be one of its redeeming qualities.
Lord Illingworth: The road to bad literature is paved with good style.
Miss Prism: And I disaprove of the modern trend of finding redeeming qualities in everything.
The Duchess of Padua: ✮✮½
Duchess: And what do you think of the Duchess of Padua?
Oscar Wilde:There is only one of my plays that is more melodramatic than Vera, and that is The Duchess of Padua.
Lady Hunstanton: There is a gentleman who wishes to expound his theory of the play. Or was he a beggar? I forget which.
Mrs Allonby: I did not understand a word he said. Or I was not listening. I forget which.
Lord Darlington: Which is most commendable. Nowadays to be intelligible is to be found out.
Mrs Chevely: He is made to be a public speaker!
Duchess of Berwick: I am not sure what he said either, but I must insist I loved Wilde’s style.Good style is the mark of a good playwright.
Mrs Allonby: Do not repeat yourself dear Duchess. That is a most horrid habit. Besides, the true mark of a good playwright is succeeding despite his style.
Salomé: ✮✮✮½
Duchess: And Salomé?
Sigmund Freud: I loved it! It provides empirical evidence to support my theories.
Algernon: That is great news for you, Mr Freud. You might be able to get people in real life to act in a similar fashion. Science is always making wonderful improvements in things.
Lady Windermere’s Fan: ✮✮✮✮½
A Woman of No Importance: ✮✮✮✮
An Ideal Husband: ✮✮✮✮½
The Importance of Being Earnest: ✮✮✮✮✮
Duchess: And what do you think about...?
Mabel Chiltern: Oh, you talk too much Duchess.
Duchess: Sorry dear, I did not mean to be dull. There are few things worse than being dull.
Oscar Wilde: All my society plays are more or less the same. They are all more or less equally superb.
Lord Goring: But it is very boring to speak on a subject one has too few or too many witty things to say.
Algernon: Let it suffice to say that our lives would be completely different without them. In fact, I am not sure whether we would be alive at all! Acting is a thoroughly respectable form of Bunburying.
Lord Goring: Yes, the plays are one with ourselves, so we should love them. To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
Gwendolen: I highly recommend you always carry them with you. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.
La Sainte Courtisane: ✮✮
Duchess: La Sainte Courtisane?
Mrs. Erlynne: It is like an unfinished version of Salomé, only that the protagonist repents and goes to a bad dress-maker (on account of having lost her looks, one assumes). It is most fashionable to publish unfinished manuscripts nowadays.
A Florentine Tragedy: ✮✮✮
Duchess: We got to a Florentine Tragedy at last. I must attend a party this evening.
Algernon: That last play is an eye-opener. People do not seem to realise that in married life three is company and two is none. Mind if I come along, Duchess?
CURTAIN
Whistler (John Cleese): There is only one thing in the world worse than being witty, and that is not being witty.
Ali G: You’s read the works of mah main man Oscar Wilde. So listen up and be well clever like him. Respect.
Stephen Fry: Plays are not for watching or reading, dear, they’re just for being in.
Duchess: Perfectly true, Mr Fry. Even when one does go to the theater it is merely to show oneself off. But we must write this review I’m afraid.
Vera, or the Nihilists: ✮✮✮½
Mrs Allonby: We can start with Vera and write it off as too melodramatic.
Duchess: But aren’t plays supposed to be that way, dear?
Mrs Allonby: Not at all, they should be a sober background against which we can flaunt our dressess.
Lord Illingworth: And for scenes, misunderstandings and disappointments we have the institution of marriage.
Duchess: All the same, I found good style to be one of its redeeming qualities.
Lord Illingworth: The road to bad literature is paved with good style.
Miss Prism: And I disaprove of the modern trend of finding redeeming qualities in everything.
The Duchess of Padua: ✮✮½
Duchess: And what do you think of the Duchess of Padua?
Oscar Wilde:There is only one of my plays that is more melodramatic than Vera, and that is The Duchess of Padua.
Lady Hunstanton: There is a gentleman who wishes to expound his theory of the play. Or was he a beggar? I forget which.
Mrs Allonby: I did not understand a word he said. Or I was not listening. I forget which.
Lord Darlington: Which is most commendable. Nowadays to be intelligible is to be found out.
Mrs Chevely: He is made to be a public speaker!
Duchess of Berwick: I am not sure what he said either, but I must insist I loved Wilde’s style.Good style is the mark of a good playwright.
Mrs Allonby: Do not repeat yourself dear Duchess. That is a most horrid habit. Besides, the true mark of a good playwright is succeeding despite his style.
Salomé: ✮✮✮½
Duchess: And Salomé?
Sigmund Freud: I loved it! It provides empirical evidence to support my theories.
Algernon: That is great news for you, Mr Freud. You might be able to get people in real life to act in a similar fashion. Science is always making wonderful improvements in things.
Lady Windermere’s Fan: ✮✮✮✮½
A Woman of No Importance: ✮✮✮✮
An Ideal Husband: ✮✮✮✮½
The Importance of Being Earnest: ✮✮✮✮✮
Duchess: And what do you think about...?
Mabel Chiltern: Oh, you talk too much Duchess.
Duchess: Sorry dear, I did not mean to be dull. There are few things worse than being dull.
Oscar Wilde: All my society plays are more or less the same. They are all more or less equally superb.
Lord Goring: But it is very boring to speak on a subject one has too few or too many witty things to say.
Algernon: Let it suffice to say that our lives would be completely different without them. In fact, I am not sure whether we would be alive at all! Acting is a thoroughly respectable form of Bunburying.
Lord Goring: Yes, the plays are one with ourselves, so we should love them. To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
Gwendolen: I highly recommend you always carry them with you. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.
La Sainte Courtisane: ✮✮
Duchess: La Sainte Courtisane?
Mrs. Erlynne: It is like an unfinished version of Salomé, only that the protagonist repents and goes to a bad dress-maker (on account of having lost her looks, one assumes). It is most fashionable to publish unfinished manuscripts nowadays.
A Florentine Tragedy: ✮✮✮
Duchess: We got to a Florentine Tragedy at last. I must attend a party this evening.
Algernon: That last play is an eye-opener. People do not seem to realise that in married life three is company and two is none. Mind if I come along, Duchess?
CURTAIN
Whistler (John Cleese): There is only one thing in the world worse than being witty, and that is not being witty.
Ali G: You’s read the works of mah main man Oscar Wilde. So listen up and be well clever like him. Respect.
January 30, 2025
Vera - 3.5/5 - “To strangle whatever nature is in me; neither to love nor be loved; neither to pity nor be pitied” 🖤🥀
The Duchess of Padua - 3/5 - “Without thee the heavy minutes crawl with feet of lead, but, while I look upon thy loveliness, the hours fly like winged Mercuries and leave existence golden” ❤️🔥🔱
Salomé - 3.5/5 - “You must not look at her! You are always looking at her!” 🌜🌛
Lady Windermere’s Fan - 5/5 - “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it” 👗💄
A Woman of No Importance - 5/5 - “You are my father and my mother all in one. I need no second parent” 💝💪🏻
An Ideal Husband - 4/5 - “You made your false idol of me, and I had not the courage to come down, show you my wounds, tell you my weaknesses” 💰👀
The Importance of Being Earnest - 5/5 - “I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy” 🎭🤭
La Sainte Courtisane - 3/5 - “The dust of the desert lies on your hair and your feet are scratched with thorns and your body is scorched by the sun. Come with me, Honorious, and I will clothe you in a tunic of silk” 🏜️⛪️
A Florentine Tragedy - 2/5 - “Why did you not tell me you were so strong? / Why did you not tell me you were beautiful?” 🇮🇹🔔
The Duchess of Padua - 3/5 - “Without thee the heavy minutes crawl with feet of lead, but, while I look upon thy loveliness, the hours fly like winged Mercuries and leave existence golden” ❤️🔥🔱
Salomé - 3.5/5 - “You must not look at her! You are always looking at her!” 🌜🌛
Lady Windermere’s Fan - 5/5 - “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it” 👗💄
A Woman of No Importance - 5/5 - “You are my father and my mother all in one. I need no second parent” 💝💪🏻
An Ideal Husband - 4/5 - “You made your false idol of me, and I had not the courage to come down, show you my wounds, tell you my weaknesses” 💰👀
The Importance of Being Earnest - 5/5 - “I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy” 🎭🤭
La Sainte Courtisane - 3/5 - “The dust of the desert lies on your hair and your feet are scratched with thorns and your body is scorched by the sun. Come with me, Honorious, and I will clothe you in a tunic of silk” 🏜️⛪️
A Florentine Tragedy - 2/5 - “Why did you not tell me you were so strong? / Why did you not tell me you were beautiful?” 🇮🇹🔔
October 21, 2024
I’m putting on a play and you’re all invited!
December 20, 2021
if beauty were a language, it would be in oscar wilde's writing. truly a man far ahead of his time. brilliant and witty sense of humor too.
September 4, 2008
I have read almost everything Wilde wrote, and other than his last work, "De Profundis" (his letter to his once-boyfriend from JAIL, where he was imprisoned for being gay), he generally annoys the shit out of me.
Yes, he's witty, and he's amusing to hear people quote at a cocktail party, but his plays are melodramatic (worse than an episode of "One Life to Live") and his works deny all real human feelings that aren't pretty, scandalous, or quotable, like self-loathing or ennui. This makes me feel like Wilde is not rooted in his own body, and his texts ring false to me.
I've read Dorian Gray three times, and it is worth reading. His plays are best suited to those who just like Wilde.
Yes, he's witty, and he's amusing to hear people quote at a cocktail party, but his plays are melodramatic (worse than an episode of "One Life to Live") and his works deny all real human feelings that aren't pretty, scandalous, or quotable, like self-loathing or ennui. This makes me feel like Wilde is not rooted in his own body, and his texts ring false to me.
I've read Dorian Gray three times, and it is worth reading. His plays are best suited to those who just like Wilde.
September 21, 2018
“Nothing is so dangerous as being too modern. One is apt to grow old-fashioned quite suddenly. I have known many instances of it.—p:193” And I think this is the secret of the freshness we feel in Wilde’s style of writing; many others have been writing and will write but nearly all have forgotten and will be. We have known many instances of them. But among them, he is the one witty monster who knows that simplicity and moderation is the key to perfection. The real gem who writes about the results of being shallow and empty, and forgetting the mere love we can give each other as a gift; the common problem in every society.
These plays are “in every way the visible personification of absolute perfection.__p:301”
I love him.
These plays are “in every way the visible personification of absolute perfection.__p:301”
I love him.
December 20, 2016
Introduction
--Lady Windermere's Fan
--An Ideal Husband
--The Importance of being Earnest
--A Woman of No Importance
--Salomé
--The Duchess of Padua
--Vera, or The Nihilists
--A Florentine Tragedy
--La Sainte Courtisane
--Lady Windermere's Fan
--An Ideal Husband
--The Importance of being Earnest
--A Woman of No Importance
--Salomé
--The Duchess of Padua
--Vera, or The Nihilists
--A Florentine Tragedy
--La Sainte Courtisane
January 15, 2019
I didn't read this specific book, but I heard I believe all his plays performed for radio on tape. And I loved them all, some more than others, but all resulted in at least a few laughs and women are almost always portrayed as strong even if sometimes over-vivaciou and silly.
January 8, 2011
What can I say? It's Oscar Wilde! I love how entertaining he is even now. You can really see the genesis of Monty Python in his writing.
March 31, 2017
I read The Importance of Being Earnest, and it was laugh-out-loud hilarious, and so clever. Loved! I can't wait to get back to this volume, and read a play at a time.
March 12, 2022
“What are American dry goods?” Lady Hunstanton asks in Oscar Wilde’s play “A Woman of No Importance”
“American novels,” replies Lord Illingworth.
Such is an example of Wilde’s extraordinary wit, which jumps off the page in this authoritative collection of his drama. This collection features either earlier, lesser known or less prominent plays like “Vera; or, The Nihilists” (the Russian Tsarist setting of which was apparently a device for Wilde to show his preference for Irish Home Rule); to the controversial Salome.
However, the “society comedies”: “Lady Windermere’s Fan”, “A Woman of No Importance”, “An Ideal Husband”, and “The Importance of Being Earnest” are where Wilde truly shines.
As well as social critique, Wilde didn’t shy away from political comment in his works, see this exchange in The Importance of Being Earnest:
Lady Bracknell: What are your politics?
Jack: Well, I am afraid I really have none. I am a Liberal Unionist.
Lady Bracknell: Oh, they count as Tories. They dine with us. Or come in the evening, at any rate.
(The Liberal Unionists being those in the Liberal Party who broke away from the party over then-Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone’s bill to grant Home Rule for Ireland, and voted with the Conservatives).
This volume, allowing a holistic look at Wilde’s work, makes this social and political commentary especially noticeable, but no less funny when it occurs.
Anne Varty, Royal Holloway, University of London, who compiled this edition, says that Wilde “has now a reputation and stature of major significance in Anglo-Irish literature.” Long may that be true.
“American novels,” replies Lord Illingworth.
Such is an example of Wilde’s extraordinary wit, which jumps off the page in this authoritative collection of his drama. This collection features either earlier, lesser known or less prominent plays like “Vera; or, The Nihilists” (the Russian Tsarist setting of which was apparently a device for Wilde to show his preference for Irish Home Rule); to the controversial Salome.
However, the “society comedies”: “Lady Windermere’s Fan”, “A Woman of No Importance”, “An Ideal Husband”, and “The Importance of Being Earnest” are where Wilde truly shines.
As well as social critique, Wilde didn’t shy away from political comment in his works, see this exchange in The Importance of Being Earnest:
Lady Bracknell: What are your politics?
Jack: Well, I am afraid I really have none. I am a Liberal Unionist.
Lady Bracknell: Oh, they count as Tories. They dine with us. Or come in the evening, at any rate.
(The Liberal Unionists being those in the Liberal Party who broke away from the party over then-Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone’s bill to grant Home Rule for Ireland, and voted with the Conservatives).
This volume, allowing a holistic look at Wilde’s work, makes this social and political commentary especially noticeable, but no less funny when it occurs.
Anne Varty, Royal Holloway, University of London, who compiled this edition, says that Wilde “has now a reputation and stature of major significance in Anglo-Irish literature.” Long may that be true.
October 15, 2022
“When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.”
Though this collection has its ups and downs in terms of quality, the overall achievement is marvellous. My favourites were 'A Woman of No Importance', 'The Duchess of Padua', with my top pick still landing on 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. I was not very interested in 'Salome', partially because the writing was immensely repetitive. Occasionally, this suited the message but I did get frustrated by it towards the end. It is fascinating to see that Wilde has certain tropes in his plays that keep coming back in the same fashion. For example, the dandy gentleman that is accused by society of being a horrible influence which he in turn gladly accepts to avoid serious judgement on his life philosophy. It makes me wonder if this was Wilde's role in society in his time, as he was known to cause quite the stir, especially so when he became a successful playwright.
I'll come back to the plays once I've managed to get through his massive biography I have on my shelf now. I look forward to placing them in the social and personal context of the author! Wilde is still one of my favourite authors and he certainly hasn't dissapointed me so far.
Though this collection has its ups and downs in terms of quality, the overall achievement is marvellous. My favourites were 'A Woman of No Importance', 'The Duchess of Padua', with my top pick still landing on 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. I was not very interested in 'Salome', partially because the writing was immensely repetitive. Occasionally, this suited the message but I did get frustrated by it towards the end. It is fascinating to see that Wilde has certain tropes in his plays that keep coming back in the same fashion. For example, the dandy gentleman that is accused by society of being a horrible influence which he in turn gladly accepts to avoid serious judgement on his life philosophy. It makes me wonder if this was Wilde's role in society in his time, as he was known to cause quite the stir, especially so when he became a successful playwright.
I'll come back to the plays once I've managed to get through his massive biography I have on my shelf now. I look forward to placing them in the social and personal context of the author! Wilde is still one of my favourite authors and he certainly hasn't dissapointed me so far.
March 3, 2025
Mi experiencia con el teatro es nula más allá de Lorca y algo -muy poco- de Shakespeare, pero si lo que me estoy perdiendo se parece a esto… en fin, ¿qué decir? Intentaré remediarlo con prontitud.
Wilde arranca fuerte con “Vera, o los nihilistas” y “La duquesa de Padua”, dos tragedias al más puro estilo clásico que no parecen en absoluto un bautismo en el género… Aquí puede verse ya su virtuosa pluma y su inteligencia y grandilocuencia en los diálogos, destacables en cada uno de los títulos.
Sin embargo, para mí, es indudable que el mayor esplendor recae en las cuatro comedias: “El abanico de Lady Windermere”, “Una mujer sin importancia”, “Un marido ideal” y “La importancia de llamarse Ernesto”; todas ellas críticas llenas de cinismo a la frivolidad y al doble rasero de la opresiva moral victoriana en las que no parece que el autor escriba, sino que sentencie.
“La sainte courtisane”, “Una tragedia florentina” e incluso “Salomé” se sienten más anecdóticas, máxime teniendo en cuenta que las dos primeras no están finalizadas, pero también rezuman encanto, y ponen el broche final a una obra teatral magnífica.
Hace bastante que leí “El retrato de Dorian Gray”, pero es ahora cuando me declaro, absoluta e irrevocablemente, fanático de Oscar Wilde.
Wilde arranca fuerte con “Vera, o los nihilistas” y “La duquesa de Padua”, dos tragedias al más puro estilo clásico que no parecen en absoluto un bautismo en el género… Aquí puede verse ya su virtuosa pluma y su inteligencia y grandilocuencia en los diálogos, destacables en cada uno de los títulos.
Sin embargo, para mí, es indudable que el mayor esplendor recae en las cuatro comedias: “El abanico de Lady Windermere”, “Una mujer sin importancia”, “Un marido ideal” y “La importancia de llamarse Ernesto”; todas ellas críticas llenas de cinismo a la frivolidad y al doble rasero de la opresiva moral victoriana en las que no parece que el autor escriba, sino que sentencie.
“La sainte courtisane”, “Una tragedia florentina” e incluso “Salomé” se sienten más anecdóticas, máxime teniendo en cuenta que las dos primeras no están finalizadas, pero también rezuman encanto, y ponen el broche final a una obra teatral magnífica.
Hace bastante que leí “El retrato de Dorian Gray”, pero es ahora cuando me declaro, absoluta e irrevocablemente, fanático de Oscar Wilde.
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