Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
Oscar WildeRead
What are American dry-goods? asked the duchess, raising her large hands in wonder and accentuating the verb. American novels, answered Lord Henry.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the perception and value of American literature through a sarcastic lens.
In this exchange between the Duchess and Lord Henry, Oscar Wilde cleverly compares American novels to dry-goods, suggesting that they are considered commonplace or lacking in depth. This indicates a critique of American literature's perceived quality and artistic merit in contrast to other literary traditions, showcasing Wilde's wit and his views on cultural production.
Themes
LiteratureAmerican NovelsOscar WildeArtCritique
In practice
Example use cases
In a literature class discussing American novels, this quote can illustrate differing opinions on their artistic value.
More from Oscar Wilde
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When one has never heard a man's name in the course of one's life, it speaks volumes for him; he must be quite respectable.
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Men always want to be a woman's first love - women like to be a man's last romance.
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A truth ceases to be true when more than one person believes in it.
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His morality is all sympathy, just what morality should be
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