Happy Holidays!!

Story # 8: The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wild

Born on October 16, 1854 in Dublin, Irish writer Oscar Wilde is best known for the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and the play The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as for his infamous arrest and imprisonment for being gay.

Wilde was convicted on May 25, 1895 and sentenced to two years in prison. He  emerged from prison in 1897, physically depleted, emotionally exhausted and flat broke. He went into exile in France and died of meningitis on November 30, 1900 at the age of 46.

More than a century after his death, Wilde is often better remembered for his personal life—his exuberant personality, consummate wit and infamous imprisonment for homosexuality—than for his literary accomplishments. Nevertheless, his witty, imaginative and undeniably beautiful works, in particular, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and his play The Importance of Being Earnest, are considered among the great literary masterpieces of the late Victorian period.

The Model Millionaire.

1. What kind of story is this? Is it a light-hearted entertainment, or is there a moral? If so, what might it be?

2. Regarding the conversation between the Baron and Alan after Hughie leaves, which questions do you think the Baron asked?

3. Do you like the story´s title? Does it suit the story? Who do you think it refers to, Hughie or the Baron?