On The Aesthetics Dandies In The Plays Of Oscar Wilde

This thesis intends to analyze the aesthetic dandies and dandyism based on four major plays of Oscar Wilde(Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest), combined with the aesthetics of the dandies in history and the Aestheticism background. The essence of Wildean dandyism is to subvert the vulgarity and shallowness of the Victorian Bourgeoisie, meanwhile expose the bored, vacuous and hypocritical life in High Society.The thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter focuses on the dandyism in history, giving an introduction of the development of this cultural phenomenon. On the background of fin-de-siecle and aestheticism movement, the dandies in Wilde's plays appeared as a distinctive image in the pursuit of pure beauty and art.Chapter two analyzes the character and inherence of the dandies in the plays of Wilde. The dandies in the plays pay great attention to their costume, which represent the notions of Wilde's aestheticism. The burning desires for sensual pleasures are more temperate, but substituted for basic diet desire. They all accept the cynical attitude towards life; therefore they lost emotional substance and inner mentality.The third Chapter focuses on the theatrical language of the dandies so as to explore the language characteristic of aestheticism. The beauty of language and formalism are highly appreciated by the aesthetic dandies. The paradoxes and epigrams in the plays are used by Wilde to get infinite comic effect. Nonetheless, from the drama conversation, the boredom and hollowness can be detected in High Society.