A Study On The Multiple Receptions Of Wilde's Salome

Oscar Wilde is generally considered as one of the most distinguished playwrights,artists and critics of England in 19^th century and his plays are viewed as his important contributions to English literature.As Wilde's aestheticism masterpiece,the play Salome is based on the Biblical story“John the Baptist's being beheaded”.Wilde's innovations from Bible provide basis for readers'diverse understandings and the indeterminacy in Salome causes readers'diverse receptions of the work.This thesis attempts to analyze the reasons of reader's multiple receptions of Salome and readers'multiple reception models by employing the reception theory.Except for introduction and conclusion,the thesis can be divided into three chapters.Chapter One deals with Wilde's innovations in characters,plots,and styles in Salome based on Bible.Firstly,characters are more complicated;secondly,plots become twisted;thirdly,the styles of Salome show diversification and indeterminacy.It is found that all the three factors lay foundations for readers'multiple interpretations.Chapter Two analyzes the blanks and indeterminacy in levels of plots,images,and semantics in Salome text.In plots,Wilde leaves some blanks.In image level,images of the play are changeable and multiple-faceted.In semantic level,many dialogues in Salome are indeterminate,which mainly displays in incommunicability among characters.Therefore,the three factors above lead to reader's diverse understandings.Chapter Three studies readers'multiple reception patterns.Through analyzing their multiple receptions,it can be found that the receptions show three types of patterns:interweaving of aestheticism and moralism,convergence of Greek culture and Jewish culture,and Juxtaposition of theme of death and theme of love.Based on the three chapters above,conclusions have been drawn:Salome is full of indeterminacy,which is the important cause leading to readers'multiple receptions.Through analyzing the indeterminacy in Salome and readers'multiple receptions patterns,we can find Wilde's contradictory and indeterminate ideas in Salome,which reflect that Wilde's thoughts are profound and philosophical and that he constantly seeks and unremittingly quests for the meaning of life.Therefore,it is significant to study readers'multiple receptions of Salome and it helps to enlighten readers to comprehensively comprehend and study philosophical and complicated ideas embedded in Wilde's works.