"Oscar Wilde and the Politics of Posthumous Sainthood: Hofmannstahl, Mirbeau, Proust" (original) (raw)

The paper examines Oscar Wilde's complex relationships with contemporaries Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Octave Mirbeau, and Marcel Proust, focusing on how their works depict Wilde's multifaceted identity as both a celebrated writer and a tragic figure. Hofmannsthal critiques the tendency to idealize Wilde, arguing for a recognition of his active role in his own destruction, while Mirbeau offers a politically charged perspective on Wilde's experiences through themes of martyrdom and decadence. In contrast, Proust's perception of Wilde is marked by disappointment and dismissal, revealing the varied interpretations of Wilde's aestheticism and impact on modern literary thought.