This story really encapsulates Wilde’s narcissistic worldview. He was an irresponsible manipulator who racked up enormous debts and sodomized teenagers (his poor wife). And in the story he justifies his pederasty / decadence by claiming to be unfairly persecuted by society, which he says is hypocritical. Maybe it is unfair and hypocritical, but we’re on Team Civilization and Wilde is an antisocial.
Typical provocateur narcissist.
