Orientador: Peter James Harris / Banca: Munira Hamud Mutran / Banca: Norma Wimmer / Resumo: Este trabalho tem por objetivo a análise da peça A importância de ser Prudente (2007), escrita por Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), de acordo com a perspectiva teórica de base estética, da qual Wilde foi um dos expoentes maiores. O método analógico foi utilizado para estruturar a comparação entre a teoria estética de Wilde e o texto de sua peça A importância de ser Prudente, representante de sua prática dramatúrgica. Os textos teórico-críticos de Wilde foram escolhidos com base nos objetivos da proposta, os mais relevantes sendo: O crítico como artista, A decadência da mentira, A verdade das máscaras e Pena, lápis e veneno, todos eles compilados no livro Intenções, publicado no volume único da Obra Completa de Oscar Wilde (2007). A pesquisa partiu, ainda, dos conceitos teóricos do Movimento Estético (geral) para os conceitos estéticos encontrados nos ensaios críticos de Wilde (específico), e os ensaios em questão se prestaram à abordagem teórica estética utilizada na pesquisa. Considerando que o principal teórico do Movimento Estético foi Walter Pater (1839 - 1894), suas obras Appreciations, with an Essay on Style (1889) e The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry (1873) foram analisadas a fim de clarificar quais são os pressupostos teóricos do Movimento Estético e quais desses são compartilhados com Oscar Wilde. Tomando como base tais conjecturas, verificaram-se como esses conceitos teóricos incidem na prática de Wilde / Abstract: This study has as its aim the analysis of the play The Importance of Being Earnest (2007), written by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), in accordance with the aesthetic theoretical perspective, of which Wilde was a major exponent. A method of analogical comparison was utilised, contrasting Oscar Wilde's theory, taken from some of his critical essays, with the text of the play The Importance of Being Earnest, as a representation of his dramaturgy in practice. The theoretical and critical texts by Wilde were chosen according to the aims of this proposal, the most relevant being: "The Critic as Artist", "The Decay of Lying", "The Truth of Masks" and "Pen, Pencil and Poison", all of which were published together in the book Intentions, republished in Oscar Wilde's Complete Works (2007). The research moved from the theoretical conceptions of the Aesthetic Movement (general) to the aesthetic conceptions found in Wilde's articles (specific), therefore the aforementioned essays are used as the aesthetic theoretical approach which was chosen to lead the research. Considering that the main theorist of the Aesthetic Movement was Walter Pater (1839 - 1894), his works, Appreciations, with an Essay on Style (1889) and The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry (1873), were analysed in order to clarify the theoretical premises of the Aesthetic Movement and which of these are shared with Oscar Wilde. Taking these conjectures as a starting point, the impact of these theoretical concepts on Wilde's practice was then analysed / Mestre