This is a summary in keywords on the topic of the Irish playwright Oscar Wilde.
Amongst other points, his life, the Victorian period, aestheticism, decadence, Wilde’s conception of criticism in "The Critic as Artist", the relationship between Art and Nature in the "Decay of Lying", "Salomé", "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "The Importance of Being Earnest" and human nature in "Lady Windermere’s Fan" are discussed.
Table of Contents
1. Oscar Wilde
2. Victorian period
3. Aetheticism
4. Decadence
5. Wilde´s conception of Criticism in The Critic as Artist I
6. The Relationship between Art and Nature in the Decay of Lying
7. Salomé
8. The Picture of Dorian Gray
9. Human Nature in Lady Windermere´s Fan
10. The Importance of Being Earnest
Objectives & Themes
This work explores the life, philosophy, and literary contributions of Oscar Wilde within the context of the Victorian era. It examines his role as a leading figure of Aestheticism and Decadence, analyzing how his critical essays, plays, and novels challenged contemporary moral values, societal hypocrisy, and the conventional understanding of the relationship between art and life.
- Analysis of Aestheticism as a reaction against Victorian moral didacticism.
- Examination of Wilde’s critical theory and the elevation of the critic as an artist.
- Study of Decadence and the rejection of nature in favor of the artificial.
- Exploration of recurring motifs such as double identity, the mask, and the "grey" nature of humanity.
- Detailed review of key works including "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Salomé", and "The Importance of Being Earnest".
Excerpt from the Book
The Picture of Dorian Gray
novel which deals with evil in human nature + the pursuit of evil beauty
Nassar: main characters are personifications of the art movement „decadence“
Dorian, as he degenerated becomes a perfect example of the decadent, his portrait, as it becomes more and more evil, a perfect type of decadent art
preface: some kind of catechism of l´art pour l´art „all art is quite useless“
however, there is a moral in Dorian: all excess as well as all renunciation brings its punishment
Summary of Chapters
Oscar Wilde: Provides a biographical overview of Wilde’s life, his education at Oxford, and his rise as a key figure in the Aesthetic movement.
Victorian period: Outlines the historical context of the era, spanning from the 1830s to the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.
Aetheticism: Defines the movement’s core philosophy, which prioritizes art for its own sake and rejects the necessity of moral teaching in art.
Decadence: Explores the later manifestation of Aestheticism, focusing on the pursuit of sensation, the artificial, and the inversion of traditional social mores.
Wilde´s conception of Criticism in The Critic as Artist I: Discusses Wilde’s view that the critic is an artist who transforms the original work into something new.
The Relationship between Art and Nature in the Decay of Lying: Analyzes the thesis that art is superior to nature and that life imitates art rather than the reverse.
Salomé: Examines Wilde’s decadent play, interpreting it as a confrontation between human lust and Victorian repression.
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Investigates the themes of double identity, moral degradation, and the role of the portrait as a mirror of the soul.
Human Nature in Lady Windermere´s Fan: Explores Wilde’s comedy of manners, highlighting the grey nature of humanity and the hypocrisy of Victorian morality.
The Importance of Being Earnest: Analyzes the structure and wit of Wilde’s farce, focusing on the absurdity of its plot and the use of masks.
Keywords
Oscar Wilde, Aestheticism, Decadence, Victorian Era, Art for Art's Sake, Dorian Gray, Salomé, Dandyism, Critic as Artist, Double Identity, Hedonism, Comedy of Manners, Farce, Nature, Artificiality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This work provides an overview of Oscar Wilde’s literary career, his personal philosophy, and his critical impact on the late Victorian cultural landscape.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the Aesthetic movement, the concept of Decadence, the autonomy of art, and the critique of Victorian bourgeois morality.
What is the primary objective of this text?
The objective is to analyze how Wilde used his works to challenge the constraints of his time and to advocate for a life dedicated to beauty and art over moral utility.
What methodology does the author use?
The author provides analytical summaries and interpretations of Wilde's major essays, plays, and his novel, grounding them in the historical and philosophical context of the 19th century.
What is covered in the main section of the book?
The main section covers specific literary analyses of Wilde's critical essays ("The Decay of Lying", "The Critic as Artist"), his dramas ("Salomé", "Lady Windermere's Fan", "The Importance of Being Earnest"), and his novel ("The Picture of Dorian Gray").
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is best characterized by keywords such as Aestheticism, Decadence, Dandyism, and Art for Art's Sake.
How does Wilde define the role of the critic?
Wilde argues that the critic does not just interpret a work of art, but rather becomes an artist by transforming the original piece into a new, subjective work of art.
What does the "moon" symbolize in the play Salomé?
In Salomé, the moon serves as a recurring symbol of mysterious forces and sexual perversity, shifting in color to reflect the unfolding moral corruption of the characters.
Why is Dorian Gray's double identity significant?
It represents the hypocrisy of the Victorian era, where the protagonist hides his moral degradation behind a mask of social respectability, only for his true self to be reflected in his portrait.
How is the term "earnest" used in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Wilde plays with the homonymy of the name "Ernest" and the adjective "earnest" (meaning serious), creating a satirical farce that mocks the seriousness of Victorian society.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Angelika Felser (Autor:in), 1998, Oscar Wilde. From the Victorian Period to Aestheticism and his Greatest Plays, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/335910
