Scandal, Sin, and Seduction: The Neronian Personae of Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is perhaps most famous for his witty, clever society plays that delighted London in the first half of the 1890s. But running through his private letters is an engagement with ancient Rome and its emperors that showcases his knowledge and skill as a classical scholar. This paper will explore some of the Neronian personae Wilde adopts in these letters, from stoking scandal by imitating Nero's hairstyle to using the emperor to explore the depths of sin in his own society.