| URN | etd-0113117-181535 | Statistics | This thesis had been viewed 48 times. Download 1 times. |
| Author | Pei-Xuan Su. Wan-Ting Wu. Yu-Syuan Dai. | ||
| Author's Email Address | No Public. | ||
| Department | Department of Applied English | ||
| Year | 2016 | Semester | 2 |
| Degree | 英文學位資料 | Type of Document | Doctoral Dissertation |
| Language | English | Page Count | 28 |
| Title | Toward Life Maturity: The Transformed Selfless Giant in Oscar Wilde’s Selfish Giant | ||
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| Abstract | The present paper aims to present a vivid delineation of the transforming process through which the giant was enlightened and hence changed into a real ‘selfless great figure’ in terms of his mind’s power. To begin with thematically speaking, through a reading and analysis of the examined text, we tend to work out possible convincing answers to three related research question: first, what are the giant’s fatal flaws causing an almost limited life-vision and individual world. Second, what is that magical turning pointing ushering in the protagonist’s self-reflection and miraculous transformation, and third, what is the giant’s relations with those around him after his self was dramatically altered. With an eye to getting the insight into the above critical questions, we shall use Wilde’s own critical remarks which were chiefly recorded in his critical essay, The Soul of an Individual where he stated “Unselfishness recognizes infinitive variety of type as a delightful thing, accepts it, acquiesces in it, enjoy sit ” Using this viewpoint toward “unselfishness” we can inspiringly say that while abandoning his former ‘selfish’ individuality and in fact, life-style, the protagonist is simultaneously creating multiple life possibilities or ways of living while inviting passionate interactions with others; a harmonious relation between self and others can only occur because of such an interactive dynamic. Other equally valuable critical points presented by Wilde shall apply to an interpretation of the story in question, adding ‘critical depth’ to our own literary criticism. The last but by no means the least approach to the present text is a biographical one upon which we depend to dissect the subtle relations between Wilde’s life and his art. Noteworthy, his intimate association with Lord Alfred Douglas led to his trial on charges of homosexuality and a term of imprisonment that broke his spirit and health. He was constantly threatened by an unrecognized sexual tendency. Based on this, we’ll explore and describe how this uncommon life experience of his influences his own art creations including a few salient thematic concerns. |
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| Files | indicate in-campus access at 5 years and off-campus access at 5 years | ||
| Date of Defense | 2016-12-28 | Date of Submission | 2017-01-13 |