Chapter 9, Two Kinds of Stage Summary

Marriage becomes a goal for Wilde when his mother encourages him to find a wife with money. He explores various prospects and settles on Constance Lloyd. After a period of courtship, he proposes marriage to her on November 25, 1883, and on May 29, 1884, he marries her. However, the wealth that Constance brings to the Wilde family is less than a fortune, and the marriage itself begins with significant debt because of Oscar's rich tastes and extravagance.

During this time of courtship and marriage, Wilde makes a modest amount of money with lecture tours across the British Isles. He does two versions, one on his travels in America, "Personal Impressions of America," and the other entitled "The House Beautiful." His courtship of Constance encounters rough spots that he successfully smoothes over, but she knows that she thinks more...