Chapter 13, Hellenizing Paris Summary

During 1891, Oscar Wilde takes on Paris as only Oscar Wilde could. He participates in Parisian society, as is his usual way, and Whistler tries to discount Wilde's impact. The efforts of Whistler have little success. Wilde becomes interested in the story of Salome and begins writing a play of the same name. By the time he leaves Paris, the play is nearly finished, and Oscar is pleased with how it is turning out. After much thought, he makes Herod the central character because of his stability through the physical and spiritual violence that is central to the story.

The people of Paris tend to either accept him as a genius or reject him as an insufferable Englishman. Either way, the Parisians must pay attention to the man. To Wilde, "The point was that there are no disciples . . . . People are...