《道连•格雷的画像》中王尔德的唯美主义与道德观念_英语论文

The Combination Of Oscar Wilde’S Aestheticism And Morality In The Picture Of Dorian Gray

摘要

《道连•格雷的画像》是王尔德唯一一部长篇小说，自其出版以来饱受争议并被贴上不道德的标签。本文作者重读此小说，并揭开王尔德小说的内涵及其唯美主义的内涵所在。本文细读《道连• 格雷的画像》中的主要人物及重要情节并展开分析，从而发现王尔德虽然坚持“生活模仿艺术”和“艺术与道德无关”的理论，但在其小说中却体现出其人文关怀及道德价值观。道连• 格雷本是美的代表，却在做了不道德的事后受到了惩罚，巴兹尔在追求美与艺术的同时也是道连的道德引导者，而亨利宣传唯美主义和享乐主义并无视道德。在小说中王尔德表现出对弱者的关心和同情，也表现出对不道德行为的不满并通过画像日趋丑陋变化展示出来。此外，本文也论证分析了王尔德唯美与道德双重表现的原因及其合理性。最后得出结论: 在这篇小说中王尔德将显性唯美与隐性道德完美结合，王尔德虽然强调唯美与道德无关，但他并没有放弃自己的道德价值观，他是一个恪守传统道德观念的唯美主义者。

关键词:《道连•格雷的画像》；唯美主义；道德观念

Abstract

The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only novel written by Oscar Wilde. Since the publication of The Picture of Dorian Gray, many people consider it as immoral work. The main aim of this thesis is to reveal the implication of this novel and Wilde’s aestheticism. In this paper, I make an analysis of the three main characters and some important plots of The Picture of Dorian Gray by close reading. From analyzing the novel, I find that even though Wilde hold the opinion of “life imitates art” and “art has nothing to do with morality”, he shows his social responsibility and morality though all the plots and characters in this novel. Dorian is the practitioner of Wilde’s aestheticism, but after all the evil and immortal behaviors, he has received his punishment, which shows the position of morality in the author’s heart. Basil Hallward is the worshipper of art and also a guide in morality for Dorian while Lord Henry is the preacher of Wilde’s aestheticism and also a quitter of morality. Wilde expresses his deep care and sympathy for the weak and shows his condemnation of the evil things though the novel by the change of the portrait. What’s more, the essay analyzes the reason of Wilde’s double manifestations of both aestheticism and morality. All in all, we may form a universal understanding of Oscar Wilde’s theory of art and his morality values after figuring out the double manifestations of the explicit aestheticism and implicit morality.

Key words: The Picture of Dorian Gray; aestheticism; morality 

Contents

Acknowledgements.i

Abstract (Chinese)ii

Abstract(English).iii

Introduction.1

Chapter One Literature Review.2

1.1Brief Introduction to The Picture of Dorian Gray and Oscar Wilde.3

1.2 Brief Introduction to Aestheticism.4

Chapter Two Combination of Aestheticism and Morality in the Characters.7

2.1 Henry Wotton — The Supporter of Beauty and Quitter of Morality.8

2.2 Basil Howard — The Creator of Beauty and Defender of Morality.10

2.3 Dorian Gray —The Owner of Beauty and Evader of Morality.11

Chapter Three Combination of Aestheticism and Morality in the Plot13

3.1 Aestheticism and Morality in the Deaths.13

3.2 The Changes of the Portrait14

Chapter Four Reasons for Oscar Wilde’s Double Manifestations of Aestheticism and Morality15

4.1 Influences from Previous Studies15

4.2 Aesthetic Views as Disguise.16

Conclusion17

Bibliography.19