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Salome and Dandyism

  • Journal of Modern English Drama
  • Abbr : JMBARD
  • 2007, 20(3), pp.87-107
  • Publisher : 한국현대영미드라마학회
  • Research Area : Humanities > English Language and Literature > English Literature > Contemporary English Drama

오경심 1

1강원대

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ABSTRACT

Oh, KyungshimDepending on how one approaches Salome, whether it be in terms of Dandyism or Symbolism, the interpretation of Salome will change. From the perspective of Dandyism, the ability to express one's individuality within the boundary of a conventional society emerges as the central issue of the play. On the other hand, taking the perspective of Symbolism, the vital issue of the play comes to be the art of Symbolist language evoking the transcendental reality. This paper insists that Oscar Wilde, the writer of Salome, lived as a dandy from the beginning of his career as a writer to his tragic end as a person. In effect, Salome is one of the works in which he expresses himself as a dandy. As Joseph Donahue points out, Wilde pursues what emerges as a truly stunning originality within the apparent bounds of literary propriety. Not only in his works, but also Wilde the person attempts to fully express himself with originality within the conventions of society. Wilde's solution to this contradicting reality was to live out the role of a dandy. For that exact reason, his life and works mirror such dandyism. Living and writing in England, the very conventional social norms and values of that society provide Wilde a new ground in which he can fully express himself. Wilde masks himself as a dandy to hide his Irish and homosexual background. Similarly, in Salome, Wilde not only wears a mask of a dandy but other masks as an expressionist of French language and Symbolism. Ironically while attempting to completely disguise himself with such triple masks, Wilde's serious intention is to unveil and express his multiple selves--in other words, to express himself on the whole. The paper will discuss how Wilde puts on and off masks as dandy to express him as an Irishman through Salome and how Wilde or "Salome" as a dandy realizes himself as a whole person within the conventional power structure.

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