De Profundis (Latin: "from the depths") is a 50,000 word letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol, to Lord Alfred Douglas, his lover. Wilde wrote the letter between January and March 1897; he was not allowed to send it, but took it with him upon release.
De Profundis is a long letter written by Oscar Wilde in 1897, during his imprisonment at Reading Gaol (a British prison), to his former lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The title, De Profundis, which translates to "from the depths," refers to the Psalms and signals Wilde's deep emotional and spiritual reflection as he grapples with the pain of his past and the consequences of his actions.
The letter is a profound and introspective work, marked by both emotional intensity and philosophical depth. It reflects Wilde's sense of regret, suffering, and self-purification, as well as his feelings of betrayal by Douglas, whom he had once loved deeply. Wilde, who had been convicted of "gross indecency" due to his homosexual relationship with Douglas, was sentenced to two years of hard labor. His time in prison was a period of intense personal transformation, which is evident in the letter.
In De Profundis, Wilde begins by addressing his betrayal, blaming Lord Alfred Douglas for the role he played in Wilde’s fall from grace. He acknowledges how Douglas’s selfishness and indulgence in their passionate but ultimately destructive relationship contributed to Wilde’s public disgrace, his trial, and his imprisonment. However, Wilde also shows a degree of understanding, and even compassion, for Douglas, acknowledging the complexities of their relationship.
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Categories: Non-Fiction Literature Classics