“While we look to the dramatist to give romance to realism, we ask of the actor to give realism to romance.”
- October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900
- Irish
- Author, poet, playwright
- Written novels, plays, and poems such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and “Salome,” he had a great influence on British literature in the late 19th century through his witty social criticism and humor.
Quote
“While we look to the dramatist to give romance to realism, we ask of the actor to give realism to romance.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde explores the dynamic relationship between romance and realism in the realms of theater and performance. He suggests that, in a play, the dramatist (the playwright) is expected to bring an element of romance to realistic situations, infusing everyday life with idealism or emotion. The dramatist enhances the narrative, often exaggerating or embellishing reality to create a sense of beauty and romance that makes the story more compelling or inspiring.
On the other hand, Wilde asserts that the actor is expected to do the reverse—to ground the romantic narrative in realism. In performance, the actor’s job is to make the romantic or dramatic situation feel authentic and believable, regardless of how exaggerated or fantastical the script may be. This requires the actor to embody the human and emotional truth of the characters, so that even the most idealized or romanticized moments in the play feel real and relatable to the audience.
Wilde’s quote highlights the tension between idealism and reality in both storytelling and performance. It suggests that art—particularly in theater—relies on both imagination and truth, and that the balance between these two forces is what makes great drama. The dramatist creates the world of the story, but the actor breathes life into it by making it feel authentic and real.
In modern contexts, this quote speaks to the role of actors and writers in all forms of storytelling—whether in theater, film, or literature—and the delicate balance they must strike between creating romanticized narratives and ensuring that those narratives are relatable and emotionally true for the audience. Wilde’s words remind us that the best works of art are those that can weave together the ideal and the real, creating experiences that are both uplifting and grounded in emotional truth.
