Aestheticism As Mask: The Socialization Of Oscar Wilde

Starting from the analysis of Wilde's implicit process of socialization, this thesis traces his changing attitude towards Aestheticism to decode the paradoxes between his aesthetic theories and his writing practices. Findings of this study reveal that the aesthetic theory is just treated by Wilde as a mask, through which he could be relieved of some social obligations and restrictions, and thus realize himself through artistic creation. It explains one of the most confusing and fascinating contradictions of Wilde, and provides a new perspective on Wildean study by revealing the writer's socialized side, the long neglected area.The thesis is composed of four chapters, along with a conclusion. Chapter One first reviews existing literature on Wilde, and then introduces the research aim, research questions, and the theories and analytical tools employed by this study. Chapter Two deals with the issue of Wilde's socialization in terms of two phases in his life. It suggests that Wilde's abrupt turning from a notorious aesthet to a successful playwright indicates certain changes in his deep inner thought. Chapter Three explores The Picture of Dorian Gray, the transitional novel, by resorting to Jung's theory of lndividuation, so as to prove Wilde's implicit changing attitude towards Aestheticism. Chapter Four focuses on Wilde's paradox between his aesthetic theory and writing practice. The writer further probes into what underlies Oscar Wilde's paradox, based on the findings of the previous two chapters. The conclusion sums up the study and in particular gives answer to the questions posed in Chapter One, namely. To what extent was Wilde a disciple of Aestheticism? Is it possible that Aestheticism for Wilde has been largely a disguise? What were the primary factors that had led to the contradiction between his theory and works? And what was his real intention?...