Wilde’s Inheritance and Transcendence of Keats

This paper aims to analyze the relationship between Wilde and Keats and Wilde’s transcendence over Keats in view of writing identification of national identity. Both Keats and Wilde are significant poets in the history of English literature, yet their eras and styles differ considerably. This paper seeks to explore the relationship between the two poets from two key perspectives. First, it examines the influence of Keats on Wilde, particularly the essential themes and elements that Wilde inherited from Keats, as well as how Keats’s pursuit of beauty shaped Wilde’s aesthetic vision. Second, the paper will delve into how Wilde transcended Keats, including his development of artistic beauty and independence. Both poets share a commitment to aesthetics, using it as a medium to express their respective critiques of society: Keats’s opposition to rationalism and Wilde’s opposition to consumerism. Wilde’s transcendence of Keats is evident not only in his advancement of the pursuit of beauty and artistic autonomy, but also in his transformation of surrealism. Most notably, Wilde’s ultimate transcendence lies in his articulation of national identity, a theme that underscores the importance of cultural context in his work.