Intentions

Intentions is Oscar Wilde's manifesto on aestheticism. A collection of four essays, as a whole it provides the foundations of Wilde's philosophy of art and life. "The Decay of Lying" is about the necessity of separating art from the confines of factuality. "Pen, Pencil and Poison" examines the life of Thomas Griffiths Wainewright, a writer and murderer who Wilde considered a true artist. "The Critic as Artist" offers an expanded notion of the critic's role. "The Truth of Masks" contends that outward appearances are as significant for an artist as the hidden interior. As with all of Wilde's writing, these essays are fascinating and highly readable, and provide a useful insight into the underpinnings of his own creative work.