De Profundis

Why does Wilde believe shallowness to be the supreme vice? Why does he attribute this vice to Bosie? Think beyond just material desires. What else does shallowness foster? What does it imprison?

How does Wilde’s use of personification help to explain emotions, their nature, and their function? Elaborate on one emotion in particular, using explicit examples from the text.

What do you think Wilde means when he writes, “Art is a symbol, because man is a symbol” (35)? Think about the commonalities Wilde posits between art and man. How does this quote relate to his philosophy as a whole?