1. Introduction

1.1 Research background

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He is remembered for his epigrams, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, his plays, as well as the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death. As a spokesman for aestheticism, he tried his hand at various literary activities: he published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on the new "English Renaissance in Art", and then returned to London where he worked prolifically as a journalist. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversation, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). The opportunity to construct aesthetic details precisely, and combine them with larger social themes, drew Wilde to write drama. He wrote Salome (1891) in Paris but it was refused a license for England due to the absolute prohibition of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Unperturbed, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late Victorian London.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical novel by Oscar Wilde, first published in July 1890. After its publication, it got criticized severely about its immorality and notoriety. Disappointed to its reception, Wilde added a preface in which he showed most of his aesthetic theories that embodied in the story. Besides, he also argued that his work had no concern of morality or immorality. The Picture of Dorian Gray mainly tells a story about a male beauty, Dorian Gray, who sells his soul to a portrait for the eternal youth. Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length portrait in oil by Basil Hallward, an artist who is impressed and infatuated by Dorian's beauty. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, and he soon is enthralled by the hedonistic worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. Dorian#8217;s wish comes true. Lord Henry at the same time seizes every chance to tempt his with hedonism and encourages him to enjoy the sensual pleasure. Dorian Gray gives in the temptation and his life decays. He does a series of evil things. He kills the pregnant Sibyl and Basil who knows his secret. His eternal beauty was realized at the sacrifice of the beauty of the picture. The decades of sinful life leaves remarks on the portrait and ruins the beauty of it. At the end of the story, Dorian couldn#8217;t endure his sin and feels guilty for what he did. He slays the decaying portrait, the record of his guilt. However at his slaying, he kills himself and the picture returns to the original beauty. Dorian is dead as an ugly and old man lying on the floor in front of the picture. The Picture of Dorian Gray was treated as the reflection of his own personality instead of a piece of art work. Wilde ever said that ”Basil Hallward is what I think I am, Lord Henry what the world thinks me; Dorian what I would like to be- in other ages, perhaps”

Aestheticism (also the Aesthetic Movement) is an intellectual and art movement supporting the emphasis of aesthetic values more than social-political themes for literature, fine art, music and other arts. This meant that art from this particular movement focused more on being beautiful rather than having a deeper meaning - 'Art for Art's sake'. It was put forward by Immanuel Kant in the 18^th century. Some writers and artists who are keen on the aestheticism put up the idea ”The mission of art is to provide humans with sensory pleasure, rather than passing some kind of moral or emotional information.” Aestheticism was particularly prominent in Europe during the 19th century, supported by notable figures such as Oscar Wilde, but contemporary critics are also associated with the movement, such as Harold Bloom. Aesthetic writers tend to use beautiful and elegant words to create beautiful images in their works. They care a lot about the appearances and the dressing of the characters. Besides they also focus on the supremacy of art. As a trend of thought in western countries, aestheticism came to China together with Romanticism and symbolism in the beginning of New Literature Movement, becoming a part of New Romanticism at that time. Aesthetes in China insist of the tradition of ”unity of man and nature”. They appreciate the beauty of nature and emphasize the integration of man and nature. As to the relationship between art and life, western aesthetes believe that art is superior to life and art should go beyond the real life, while aesthetes in China sound the note that life also plays an important part in art. Those different perspectives of Chinese and western aesthetes are also reflected in their works.

1.2 Need for the study

Practically speaking, the relationship between art and life can provide numerous inspirations for modern writers and artists. Whether the writers should take some other factors such as morality and social values into account during the creation of the works deserves the discussion. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian sells his soul in exchange for his eternal beauty which means that he pursued art and abandons his real life. However, at the end of the novel, he slays the decaying picture. He is dead while the picture returns to the original beauty, which means art defeats the life and art is superior to life. The independence of art plays an important role in the creation of art.

Theoretically speaking, learning Oscar Wilde#8217;s aestheticism could give scholars more hints at studying The Picture of Dorian Gray from new research perspectives. Besides, readers can have a comprehensive understanding of The Picture of Dorian Gray and the literary achievements Oscar Wilde has made as a language master.

2. Literature review

2.1Previous studies on The Picture of Dorian Gray