One of the main themes is beauty. In 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', for example, Dorian's beauty is both a blessing and a curse. It leads him into a life of excess and moral decay. Wilde often shows how society places a high value on physical beauty, but that it can be a very superficial and dangerous thing.
A third theme is the gap between appearance and reality. This is very evident in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. Dorian appears young and innocent on the outside, but his portrait reveals the true, corrupted state of his soul. Wilde uses this to show how people can be deceived by appearances and how important it is to look deeper.
Morality is another key theme. In many of his stories, characters face moral dilemmas. In 'The Happy Prince', the prince and the swallow both act selflessly, which is in contrast to the often - selfish actions of the people in the city. Wilde explores what it means to be a good person in a world that can be cruel and indifferent.
Well, there are themes like the duality of human nature. Wilde's characters often have two sides, a public one and a private one. For instance, Dorian Gray has his outward charm but also his inner corruption. Then there is the theme of the pursuit of pleasure. His characters are often in search of hedonistic pleasures. And the theme of the power of influence, as seen in how Dorian is influenced by Lord Henry and how that shapes his life.
One of the main themes is the critique of society. Wilde often satirizes the hypocrisy and shallowness of the upper class in his stories. For example, in 'The Canterville Ghost', the American family's practical and down - to - earth attitude contrasts with the British aristocracy's obsession with propriety and tradition.
Well, the themes of 'Oscar Wilde The Complete Short Stories' include decadence. Wilde depicts a world where excessive luxury and self - indulgence are common, especially among the upper classes. Also, there is the theme of love and lust. He delves into the complex nature of human relationships, showing how love can be intertwined with desire and how it can be corrupted by society's expectations.
One of the main themes is false friendship. The Miller claims to be a devoted friend to Hans but is actually using him for his own benefits.
Another theme could be the idea of giving and generosity. During Christmas, giving is a big part of the celebration, and Wilde may have used this as a central theme to show the characters' true natures. Also, the theme of redemption might be present. Some characters could be on a journey of self - discovery and redemption during the Christmas period.
One of the main themes is the clash between the old and the new. The traditional ghost represents the old, superstitious ways, while the American family represents modern, practical thinking. Another theme is redemption. The ghost, through his interactions with the family, especially Virginia, finds a kind of peace and redemption.
The themes include the contrast between American and English cultures. The Americans are portrayed as matter - of - fact and not easily frightened, which is different from the more superstitious English. Also, there is a theme of love and kindness. Virginia's kind - hearted nature towards the ghost eventually leads to a resolution of the ghost's tortured existence.
Well, the themes in 'The Happy Prince' include compassion. The prince and the swallow show great compassion towards the less fortunate. Social inequality is also a big theme. Wilde uses the story to highlight the gap between the upper class and the poor. And love is there too, in the form of the friendship between the prince and the swallow, and their love for the people they are trying to help.
One of the main themes is the pursuit of beauty. Wilde often portrays characters who are attracted to or in search of beauty in various forms.
Love and sacrifice are common themes. In 'The Nightingale and the Rose', the nightingale sacrifices its life for the student's love. Another theme is the critique of society. Wilde often shows the flaws in the upper class, like in 'The Canterville Ghost' where the American family's practical and matter - of - fact attitude contrasts with the traditional British ghost - haunted manor setting.