The Ballad of Reading Gaol

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Set against the backdrop of a grim execution, the poem reflects on the hanging of Charles Thomas Wooldridge, who was convicted of murdering his wife. Written during Wilde's exile, it vividly describes the event while delving into the harsh realities of capital punishment. Through powerful imagery and emotional depth, the poem critiques the brutality of such acts and invites readers to contemplate the moral implications of justice and punishment.