Wilde Monologues

The turmoil in poet/playwright Oscar Wilde's life after he discovers his homosexuality.

In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants. The other is getting it.

Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities, may produce all the effects of drunkenness.

'The love that dare not speak its name', in this century, is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Johnathan. Such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you may find in the sonnets of Michelangelo or Shakespeare. It is, in this century, misunderstood. So much misunderstood that it may be described as 'the love that dare not speak its name', and on account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful. It is fine. It is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is intellectual. And it repeatedly exists between an elder and a younger man when the elder has intellect and the younger man has all the joy, hope and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts someone in the pillory for it.

I do believe in anything, provided it is incredible. That's why I intend to die a Catholic, though I never could live as one.

I feel like a city that's been under siege for twenty years, and suddenly the gates are thrown open.

The love that dare not speak its name.

What a wonderfully wicked life you lead, you boys.

No one will ever speak to me again whatever I do. Of course I'm your son, which is why, even if I lose, the English will never forget me.

Robbie comes from a long line of imperial governors. His grandfather was Prime Minister of Upper Canada. Or was it Lower Canada? The British take their class system wherever they go. They apply it even to continents.

By an unforgiveable oversight I've never been blackmailed myself, but my friends assure me that a hundred pounds will usually suffice.