The Soul of Man Under Socialism

In this brilliant, provocative essay Wilde argues that real individualism can flourish only once poverty is abolished and people are freed from the mere struggle to survive. He attacks private charity as a way of propping up an unjust system, defends art against public opinion and censorship, and imagines a society in which everyone is at last able to become fully themselves. Witty, paradoxical, and idealistic, the piece blends socialist politics with Wilde’s lifelong faith in beauty and personality. It reads less like a program than a manifesto for human freedom, and it can still startle readers today. Published in 1891. Free to download as a PDF or EPUB.