The Decay of Lying

Wilde structures his argument in the form of a dialogue. What is the effect of this structure, and how does it influence the way a reader works through the points presented?

Wilde chooses to defend what is usually considered a negative behavior, lying, as something that is not only positive but necessary. In what ways is Wilde’s understanding of lying in this essay unique?

Wilde states that “Nature hates Mind” (1). How are these two concepts defined here, and in what ways are the two presented as conflicting?