Skip to content

The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Pages
37
Published
1998
Language
English

Synopsis

Oscar Wilde's anguished poetic masterpiece, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, was born from his personal experience of two ruinous years in solitary confinement after being imprisoned for 'homosexual offenses.' This powerful work reflects on the devastating impact of his downfall, leaving him bankrupt, disgraced, and exiled. The poem explores themes of suffering, societal judgment, and the fate of outcasts, echoing Wilde's own tragic end.

Vibe

About the author

O
Oscar Wilde

An Irish writer, poet, and prominent aesthete. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories, and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest. As the result of a widely covered ser...

Characters

Oscar WildeProtagonist
Andre GideCameo
All characters in The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Readers suggest