The Greatest Artists Have the Most Tragic Lives

As of late, I’ve come to the realization that some of the greatest artists that ever lived suffered from tragic lives. A situation that seems to parallel the life of Dorian Grays: the gift of beauty and talent comes at the price of one’s life.

Oscar Wilde lived a life plagued with tragedy. At the age of 12, Wilde’s younger sister, Isola Wilde, died due to an illness. This event had a profound impact on both Wilde’s psychology and perception of death-- Wilde frequently visited the place Isola was buried and was reported to have kept a lock of Isola’s hair. Five years later, when Wilde was 17, both his half sisters met a similar face. At a house party, the two sisters became engulfed in flames from a set of candles, causing severe burns, which ultimately lead to their deaths. 

A more well-known aspect of Oscar Wilde’s tragedy was his love life. After failing to marry his childhood friend, Wilde settled for Constance Lloyd. While married to Lloyd, Wilde fell in love and had affairs with a man named Robble Ross. This relationship eventually ruined Wilde’s career and led to his trial and convention. In the end, Wilde was charged with gross indecency, and sentenced to two years of hard labor. Shortly after, Wilde suffered from meningitis and died at the age of 46. 

In essence, the horrendous life of Oscar Wilde and the psychological trauma he suffered from the results of his affairs, lead Wilde to create his chef d'oeuvre: The Picture of Dorian Gray. The emotions Gray manifests and the struggle to resist the urges of Lord Henry are palpable, simply because Wilde has undergone the same emotions in his life.