His life seems more interesting than this work. I read A Portrait of Dorian Gray and was actually rather underwhelmed, then I read Lord Arthur Saville's Crime and same thing happened. I do enjoy his poetry however, and I will read Importance of Being Earnest one day

I don't know about /lit/, but I love him.

>His life seems more interesting than this work.

This times a million. So much of it is really just a vehicle for him to be clever rather than to tell a story.

The Soul of Man Under Socialism is pretty damn interesting. I don't care for his plays, Dorian Grey was just too dull/deep for me, and I like his poetry.

>>2425407
I tried to get a high school class to read that, and all they could do is giggle about his gayness.

Until they found that out though, the discussions were great, especially the parts about charity and democracy sucking (you know what).

I have to admit, I would have been one of Wilde's best fag-hags.

That guy seriously had the wittiest comebacks. I'd love to go to a party with him and listen to him talk shit about everybody and drink mai-tais and act all sophisticated.

>>2425422
>>2425422
>drinking mai tais
>acting sophisticated

pick one

>>2425436
You know if Wilde were alive, he'd be a total bitchy queen hipster type.

I guess we might be drinking PBR at the party.

That coat is certainly a hipster staple.

Truly a fag ahead of his time.

The pimp-staff and the glorious locks of hair makes the man though.

This is a bold claim, and I can in no way validate it meaningfully, but I take Oscar Wilde to be the modern Shakespeare. The language of his poetry is so far reaching, clever, and flows well that he accomplishes a lot of what Shakespeare set out to. This isn't to say that he's better/worse/etc, only that he's a modern equivalent. (I find his plays pretty phenomenal, capable of delivering that Shakespearian stagnation and still hold a cogent plot).

Also, essay-wise, he's a phenomenal thinker. Read The Soul of Man Under Socialism, take in his young thought and idealistic conceptions of reality, and then read De Profundis, an essay he wrote while he was in jail. You'll find such a 180 on thought that it's completely jarring, and yet he manages to keep such a prideful character in both it's very charming.

>>2425533

>Modern Shakespeare
>Not Beckett

I would disagree with you there ...


On second thoughts, calling Beckett the modern Shakespeare doesn't really sound right, they're too different. Maybe Ibsen?

>>2425422
>>2425444
proof females are killing /lit/

>>2425533
I think a modern equivalent of Shakespeare would have to be equally proficient in comedy and tragedy, but I think you're close to the mark on the comedy side.

>>2425535
Ibsen tried to be a realist, trying to use modern psychology and symbolism without reaching into psychological realism. They do share a love for tragic endings though.

Excellent poet and his essays are great, but I didn't enjoy Dorian Gray much either.

>>2425536
>implying you wouldn't be one of Wilde's buttsex buddies.

The Official Queen of /lit/.