On Three Aspects Of Oscar Wilde’s Poetry

Oscar Wilde,a representative of the aestheticism,is still a poet.His poetry is not only catching with the charm of language,but his thoughts on liberty,his social ideals,and his unique perspective on colonialism are especially worthy of attention.It is of great academic value to study the ideological significance of Wilde’s poetry by connecting with the turbulent world and the changing trend of thoughts of the Wilde era.This thesis,based on Wilde’s poetry,with elaboration of historical context and Wilde thoughts,is divided into three parts: liberalism,nationalism and colonialism.“Liberty” is common in Oscar Wilde’s early poems.But the Democratic appeal of Wilde’s every man is Kinglike gives way to the rule of One,whom all obey.While upholding the “liberty” that Cromwell and Milton had ignited,Wilde has lamented the once great and free England,but the “socialism” he resorted to solve the contradictions is more like Wilde’s individualism.The intense interest in Greek civilization and the indulgence in the Church of Rome made Wilde concentrate on the national resistance of Greece and Italy,however,he has paid more attention to Byron’s “heroism”,and the praise of the unity of Italy was in contradiction to Wilde’s sympathy for the Pope Pius Ⅸ.The “groans” of Balkan people in his Sonnet on the Massacre of the Christians in Bulgaria who had been brutally slaughtered by Islam Turkey seemed to yield to Wilde’s personal appeals,more than religious sympathy.Though celebrating England climbing the steep road of wide empire,Wilde criticized the heavy cost that Britain had paid to enslave other countries.He has elaborated on the sacrifice of the warriors girt and crowned by sword and fire,focused his sympathy on our brothers,but turned a deaf ear to the lament of the conquered land.The conquered “Orient” not only becomes Wilde’s escape from “the pure land of the despotism of the soul”,but the mythical figures add more exotic atmosphere to Wilde’s poetry.Nevertheless,the eastern gods and fantasies that he remolds have not made him free from his “crucifix”.