— Oscar (Fingal O’Fflahertie Wills) Wilde, 16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900
To many this quip, as spoken by a character in Wilde’s play Lady Windermere’s Fan subtitled A Play About a Good Woman, represents humanity’s need to aim higher and do better. It doesn’t matter where you are (or even, who you are) what matters is where you are looking. Looking at the stars generally means you are looking up, which fits nicely with the phrase ‘things are looking up’ when someone observes a positive in their life.
Some though, look at how the quote is used in the play, to find its true meaning. Which is more about the boorish morals and behaviours of men toward females, which can be seen by the caddish behaviour of the character who speaks the line, Lord Windermere. Wilde does not show men in the best light.
Personally, I prefer the interpretation that implies we all can aspire for better, greater things.
Ad astra!
____________________________________________________________________
PS: I love coffee. BuyMeACoffee, leave a message with a date and time and we can share it, remotely, at the same time, and think about the Cosmos.
In the meantime, take care of yourself and if you can, someone else, too, because as Adam Smith said, “we naturally desire not only to be loved but to be lovely”.
Remember, hope lives here.
Opening image
Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oscar_Wilde_-3_-_Looking_at_the_stars_(2357717408).jpg
Contact Stargazing Guy for any copyright-related requests or queries @ stargazer1@stargazingguy.co.uk
Stargazing Guy 
Leave a comment