Quote by Oscar Wilde
It often happens that the real tragedies of life occur in suchan inartistic manner that they hurt us by their crude violence, theirabsolute incoherence, their absurd want of meaning, their entire lackof style. They affect us just as vulgarity affects us. They give usan impression of sheer brute force, and we revolt against that.Sometimes, however, a tragedy that possesses artistic elements ofbeauty crosses our lives. If these elements of beauty are real, thewhole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenlywe find that we are no longer the actors, but the spectators of theplay. Or rather we are both. We watch ourselves, and the mere wonderof the spectacle enthralls us.
Summary
This quote suggests that tragic events in life can be distressing when they lack artistic qualities, appearing crude, chaotic, meaningless, and devoid of style. Similarly to vulgarity, such tragedies evoke a sense of blunt force which repels us. However, occasionally a tragic occurrence with artistic elements of beauty unfolds in our lives. If these elements are genuine, the tragedy captivates our sense of drama. In these instances, we are simultaneously both the actors and the spectators of our own lives. Observing ourselves in this dramatic spectacle can be awe-inspiring.
Topics
Tragedy
By Oscar Wilde
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