The Soul of Man Under Socialism

“The chief advantage that would result from the establishment of Socialism is, undoubtedly, the fact that Socialism would relieve us from that sordid necessity of living for others which, in the present condition of things, presses so hardly upon almost everybody.”

Located at the very beginning of the essay, this serves as the thesis statement upon which Wilde builds his argument. Here he begins establishing the theme of The Cultivation of Individualism by framing socialism as supporting personal independence and development, whereas the existence of private property constantly impinges on the individual. Those with means must support those without them, which places both parties in a relationship of mutual obligation that prevents them from developing their own personalities.

“Remedies do not cure the disease: they merely prolong it. Indeed, their remedies are part of the disease.”

Wilde uses disease as a metaphor for poverty and medicinal remedies as a metaphor for charity. The metaphor explains why he’s critical of charity as a concept; he believes that it will never solve the problem of poverty, which is inherent to the system of private poverty and merely exacerbated by “remedies” that rely on private property. This leads to him presenting a solution in the form of socialism.

“We are often told that the poor are grateful for charity. Some of them are, no doubt, but the best amongst the poor are never grateful. They are ungrateful, discontented, disobedient, and rebellious. They are quite right to be so. Charity they feel to be a ridiculously inadequate mode of partial restitution, or a sentimental dole, usually accompanied by some impertinent attempt on the part of the sentimentalist to tyrannise over their private lives.”

Wilde sees material want as an inherent barrier to the individualism he espouses; consequently, anyone who would tacitly accept their poverty (by accepting charity) lacks awareness of their own degradation.