Oscar Wilde was a person.
Oscar Wilde . He became known for his involvement in the rising philosophy of aestheticism , led by two of his tutors , Walter Pater and John Ruskin . Known for his biting wit , flamboyant dress and glittering conversation , Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day . In 1897 , in prison , he wrote De Profundis , which was published in 1905 , a long letter which discusses his spiritual journey through his trials , forming a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure .