As soon as he disembarked in New York, Wilde was besieged by questions from journalists who reported his claim during the voyage: "that he had been disappointed by the Atlantic".
Wilde therefore began his tour of lectures, which lasted until 27 December 1882, arousing much curiosity. Even in the new continent there was no lack of characters who, offended by his stinging jokes, reacted by becoming hostile to him.
His lectures amused the Americans, who became passionate about the character's wit and bizarreness, laughing at his jokes, and ironic about the seriousness with which Wilde presented himself considering his visit to the United States as a civilizing mission.