mathildalocks:mathildalocks:The Wilde Connections Part 3 -...

mathildalocks:

mathildalocks:

The Wilde Connections Part 3 -   Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves

This is a post about the connection between Wilde’s cellmate Wooldridge and Sherlock’s Two Clients

After the prosecution, Wilde went to Pentonville and then to Reading prison for two years of hard labour. In Reading, his name was C.3.3, they didn’t use real names. ( C Block, third floor, third cell - basically the sign of three and later he published the ballad which I quoted from above, under the pen name C.3.3)

When he was C.3.3, he met another prisoner sentenced to death for killing his wife, Charles Thomas Wooldridge. Wooldridge, was a trooper in the Royal Horse Guards. He was 30 years old and was the first hanging in the prison for the past 18 years.

His brief acquaintance with Wooldridge deeply affected Wilde, who ended up writing the famous ballad of Reading Gaol under the pen name C.3.3. Some think, he subtextually  included himself in the verses as well, I would say possibly under the flattering word or the kiss knowing his letters to A. Douglas.

famous excerpt

“Yet each man kills the thing he loves
By each let this be heard.
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word.
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!”  Wilde

Source  (Again, I don’t know if there is another meta on this connection, since the fandom is basically a universe, but for those who saw the connections now, like myself, enjoy!)

twocandles thank you for reminding that Magnussen in the deleted scene, mentioned that prisoners of C block in Pentonville sent Sherlock flowers. I completely forgot that, that’s a brilliant addition. Sherlock really is partially Wilde for Moftisson and I am looking forward to the special to see what else will be buried there. There are endless references that one picks up when they get into Wilde and his life. The buttonhole, the love that dare not speak its name, the prison days, john sholto douglas….