Abstract

As the best representative work of Wilde’s aestheticism, The Picture of Dorian Gray has been regarded as immoral since it was published. This thesis introduces Wilde’s aestheticism and probes into the combination of aestheticism and morality from the perspective of the social background and the analysis of the major characters. In the masks of different characters whose values are conflicting, Wilde conducts a sober analysis of himself and the social surroundings, which shows him moral concerns and his seriousness in discussion of moral anarchy. The Picture of Dorian Gray reveals that Wilde exposes the hypocritical morality of late Victorian society and opposes the rigid moral rules and false virtues canonized by the contemporary middle class. So, he calls for more tolerant and humanly morality.

Keywords: aestheticism; morality; combination; possibility; reflection

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

3. Wilde’s Art and Morality-3

3.1 Wilde’s aestheticism-3

3.2 Wilde’s morality-4

3.3 Relation of art and morality in this work-5

3.4 Possibility of the combination of art and morality-6

4. Reflection of the Combination of Art and Morality in this Work-6

4.1 Reflected in the aspects of society-6

4.2 Reflected in the aspects of its characters-7

5. Conclusion-10

Works Cited-12