Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
The narrative follows Lord Arthur Savile, a young aristocrat engaged to the beautiful Sybil Merton. During a social gathering, he consults a cheiromantist, Mr. Podgers, who ominously predicts that Arthur will commit murder. This revelation plunges Arthur into a moral and existential crisis, as he grapples with the implications of his fate. Determined to fulfill the prophecy, Arthur resolves to kill a relative to free himself for marriage. He initially considers Lady Clementina Beauchamp, a distant cousin, and prepares to poison her with aconitine. However, after a series of misadventures and failed attempts, including a botched explosive plan targeting his uncle, Arthur's resolve wavers. In a moment of desperation, he confronts Mr. Podgers, ultimately throwing him into the Thames, believing he has eliminated the source of his curse. Following this act, Arthur learns of Podgers' death, which brings him a sense of relief and the freedom to marry Sybil. The story culminates in their wedding, where Arthur reflects on the absurdity of his journey. He realizes that the true weight of his actions was not in the murder he feared, but in the love he held for Sybil, which ultimately saved him from his fate. The narrative explores themes of destiny, morality, and the absurdity of life, culminating in a comedic resolution that highlights the contrast between societal expectations and personal desires.
By Oscar Wilde · First published 1891 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Short Story · 6 chapters · 14,964 words
First lines
It was Lady Windermere's last reception before Easter, and Bentinck House was even more crowded than usual. Six Cabinet Ministers had come on from the Speaker's Levée in their stars and ribands, all the pretty women wore their smartest dresses, and at the end of the picture-gallery stood the Princess Sophia of Karlsruhe, a heavy Tartar-looking lady, with tiny black eyes and wonderful emeralds, talking bad French at the top of her voice, and laughing immoderately at everything that was said to her. It was certainly a wonderful medley of people. Gorgeous peeresses chatted affably to violent Radicals, popular preachers brushed coattails with eminent sceptics, a perfect bevy of bishops kept following a stout prima donna from room to room, on the staircase stood several Royal Academicians, disguised as artists, and it was said that at one time the supper-room was absolutely crammed with geniuses. In fact, it was one of Lady Windermere's best nights, and the Princess stayed till nearly half-past eleven.
What this Textopian page supports
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime is listed on Textopian as a novel by Oscar Wilde, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Oscar Wilde
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Short Story, Gothic Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 14,964 words
- Structure: 6 chapters, 219 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Lord Arthur Savile's Crime by Oscar Wilde
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Lord Arthur Savile's Crime?
- How does this novel by Oscar Wilde fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — The story critiques societal norms and the absurdity of fate through humor and irony.
- Comedy — The narrative employs comedic elements and situations, highlighting the ridiculousness of the protagonist's predicament.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Gothic Fiction — Elements of dark humor and moral ambiguity reflect characteristics of Gothic literature.
Tags
Mystery · Crime · Satire · Social Commentary · Dark Humor · Gothic Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Philosophical Themes · Morality Play · Class Satire · Victorian Era · Upper Class