De Profundis: Oscar Wilde's Letter to Bosie Examined in Artspecialday Essay
An essay by Isabella Garanzini, published on 16 October 2026 by Artspecialday for MIfacciodiCultura, revisits Oscar Wilde's De Profundis, a poignant letter addressed to his lover Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie) while he was incarcerated in Reading prison. The piece portrays the letter as both visceral and dialectical, emphasizing Wilde's tumultuous love and struggles with Bosie, who never came to visit him. The analysis incorporates quotes from the Feltrinelli edition from January-March 1897, reflecting on Wilde's views regarding time and beauty. It connects Wilde's obsession with beauty to the dandyism of Dorian Gray, asserting that the pursuit of Beauty inevitably leads to Sorrow, while also critiquing Bosie's selfishness and the sacrifices Wilde made for him.
Fatti principali
- Artspecialday published the essay on 16 October 2026.
- De Profundis is a long letter Oscar Wilde wrote to Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie, from Reading prison.
- The letter is dated January-March 1897 in the Feltrinelli edition.
- Bosie never visited Wilde in prison, not even once.
- Robert Ross advised Wilde against suing Bosie's father; Ross's ashes rest with Wilde's.
- Wilde bought Bosie a house, cared for him and financed his pleasures, but was abandoned by him during a high fever.
- The essay cites Wilde's works Salomè, The Importance of Being Earnest, Dorian Gray and The Selfish Giant.
- The piece is credited to Isabella Garanzini for MIfacciodiCultura.
Entità
Artisti
- Oscar Wilde
- Lord Alfred Douglas
- Bosie
- Robert Ross
- Isabella Garanzini
- Dorian Gray
Istituzioni
- Artspecialday
- MIfacciodiCultura
- Feltrinelli
- Reading prison
Luoghi
- Reading
- England
- Italy