1. AESTHETICM: search for the beautiful, found in painting, sculptures and poetry. EXOTISM, EXCESS. contrast art-life
1.1. D'Annunzio
1.2. play: The importance of being Earnest
1.2.1. characters: ARISTOCRATIC SOCIETY, victorian snobs concerned with money
1.2.2. Jack Worthing (Ernest) wants to propose to Lady Bracknell's daughter (Gwendolen). Algernon Moncrieff (Lady Bracknell's nephew) wants to marry Cecily. There are many comic situations because of Jack and Algernon's alter egos (IT WAS AN ESCAPE FROM SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSABILITIES)
1.2.2.1. new sort of restoration comedy of manners, with his ITS typical WITTY REMARKS. MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND PARADOXES
1.2.2.1.1. importance of APPEARANCE: charcters can change identities as they wish
1.2.2.1.2. ironic use of solemn language. IRONY DOMINANT FEATURE of the play
1.2.2.2. he makes fun of the institution of marriage: a TOOL FOR ACHIEVING SOCIAL STATUS
1.3. novel: The picture of Dorian Grey
1.3.1. END OF 19th C Dorian Grey, Lord Henry (rebel and sharp intellectual), Basil Hallward ( artist in love with Dorian's youth and beauty,eventually killed) life of pleasure, eternal youth, spiritual corruption. ETERNITY OF ART
1.3.1.1. hedonism: Dorian looks for a life of pleasure and sensations
1.3.1.2. moral: every excess must be punished: Dorian dies after he destroys the picture
1.3.1.3. horrible picture: symbol of immorality of the victorian middle class. Dorian's pure appearance: symbol of hypocrisy
1.3.2. story told by an unobtrusive third person narrator. INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE