Oscar Wilde’s “The Decay of Lying” (1889) is a philosophical and literary dialogue between two characters, Vivian and Cyril. Wilde uses Vivian as a mouthpiece to launch a fierce critique of realism in literature and art.
Key Argument:
Realism, as a method, is a failure because it imitates life too closely, suppressing imagination, creativity, and artistic truth.
Wilde argues that:
Art should not imitate life; life should imitate art.
Realism confines the artist to the mundane and the literal.
It ignores the transformative and imaginative power of art.
Famous Quote:
“As a method, realism is a complete failure.”
This exact phrase appears in the essay and forms one of its core premises.
Wilde instead promotes “lying” — which he defines as artful fabrication, invention, and stylization — as the true path to artistic greatness.
Wilde's perspective is that art should elevate, embellish, and go beyond the mere representation of reality. This stance is encapsulated in his statement that "as a method, realism is a complete failure," which critiques the limitations of realism in capturing the essence and beauty of life through art.
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