Oscar Wilde- Life as a Playwright (Part I)

Although a gay man known for his rather flamboyant behavior in London society, Oscar Wilde had a traditional family of his own composed of his wife Constance and two sons. However, in the fall of 1891, Wilde moved to Paris as a respected writer where he consulted with other artists of the age in salons litteraires. During his time in Paris, Wilde decided to write a play about the biblical figure of Salome, a seductress known for her charm, after his first two plays were not a success. Inspired by depictions of Salome throughout time, Wilde wrote Salome in French. A tragedy, Salome became extremely popular and was hailed as the event of the season in London because of its immense emotional power. Oscar Wilde, following his success with Salome, sought to experiment with comedy to criticize the Victorian society he hated with a passion. Wilde's next three plays Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, and An Ideal Husband sought to expose societal trivialities and gossip, which Wilde regarded as silly and absurd. All three plays became quite popular setting the stage for the release of The Importance of Being Earnest.