Valova O.M.

G.G. Byron’s personality in the perception of O. Wilde: problem statement. Pp.106–113.

UDC 821.111-31.09″18″

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2024.85.4.012

 

Abstract. For the nineteenth century, Byron and Wilde were iconic figures. The present article explores the way Byron’s personality was perceived by Wilde, a prominent representative of “turn-of-the-century” culture. Wilde’s first collection of poems reminded the readers of Byron’s work, among other predecessors; and the twentieth century revealed an increased attention to a comparison of the personalities of both writers. The article deals with the issue of the origins of Wilde’s interest in Byron and his works, views conditioned by the opinions of his mother; it studies the image of the poet as presented in the poems Ravenna and The Garden of Eros. In both texts, Byron’s image is connected with the theme of freedom, which excited Wilde at that time and was reflected in his first play Vera, or the Nihilists. Wilde’s interest in Byron was strengthened by his editorial work in the magazine Woman’s World, whose admirers were interested in the life and work of the poet. Wilde’s attention to Byron was also dictated by the fact that he became a symbol of Romanticism, and the later writer considered this method the most creatively attractive. Over time, the vector of Wilde’s interest shifted to Byron’s personality; foreign researchers believe that the attitude to the poet becomes connected primarily with homosexuality — from these positions, both his early poetic works and the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray are reconsidered, in which links between the images of Dorian and Byron are to be found. The conclusion offers general conclusions and prospects of the study. The materials of the article can be used in research works and in the practice of teaching English literature of the 19th century.

 

Keywords: Byron, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Ravenna, The Garden of Eros, Wilde.

 

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