Abstract

The Picture of Dorian Gray，a novel mainly about the life and degeneration of a extraordinarily beautiful young man, is a representative work of Oscar Wilde, a famous English wit of the 19th century and the spokesman of aesthetic movement. This paper begins with a brief introduction to the author and this novel, then makes a detailed analysis of the protagonist Dorian’s process of degeneration, its causes and consequences, and thereby further reveals the harmfulness of hedonism and the instructive meaning of this novel.

Key words:  Dorian Gray, degeneration, causes, consequences

摘 要

奥斯卡•王尔德是19世纪英国的著名才子，唯美主义运动的倡导者。他的代表作《道林•格雷的画像》描写了一个拥有惊人美貌的青年的人生和堕落。本文从简要介绍作者生平和这部小说入手，进而详细地分析了小说主人公道林堕落的过程、原因及其最终导致的结果，从而揭示了享乐主义的危害以及这部作品所具有的教育意义。

关键词：道林•格雷；堕落；原因；结果

1. Introduction
     Looking back at the history of English literature, there is no doubt that Oscar Wilde is an outstanding writer, whose great achievements are mostly demonstrated in drama, novel, poetry, fairy tale, and essay, which make him an English wit as famous as George Bernard Shaw in the 19th century. Among all these contributions, drama is undeniably in the first place. Throughout his life, Wilde created seven dramas, including Vera, Lady Windermere’s Fan, The Duchess of Padua, Salomé, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest, and An Ideal Husband. The Importance of Being Earnest, which mercilessly exposes the hypocrisy of the upper society in Victorian England, is considered his masterpiece in drama. Nevertheless, for himself, Salomé is his favorite. This tragedy, written originally in French and published in English translation with Aubrey Beardsley’s illustration, is adapted from a story in the Bible. At that time, this play was banned in Britain because of some law clauses. Salomé is regarded as the most representative play that interprets Wilde’s view of art—everything can be sacrificed for the pursuit of beauty and hedonism.