The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - 1967 Words

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde disputes the role and conflicts between Aestheticism and morality. He exposes his contradictions and inner struggles throughout his three main characters: Lord Henry, a nobleman who criticizes the moralism and hypocrisy of Victorian society and openly expresses his Aesthetic thoughts, Dorian Gray, a handsome model influenced by Lord Henry’s views on beauty and morality, and Basil Hallward, an artist captivated by Dorian’s beauty. The novel mainly deals with the different views the three men have on art, beauty and morality. The story is based on the degradation of Dorians soul, which is reflected in his portrait. As Dorian steps closer to immorality and corruption, the portrait changes in appearance which eventually gives form to a hideous, unrecognizable figure. The goal of this essay is to expose the constant correlation between Dorian’s Aesthetic beliefs and morality and how his new lifestyle leads him to search for p ersonal satisfaction regardless of the consequences. Aestheticism originated in the Romantic period and the Pre-Raphaelites and expanded in Western Europe and America throughout the nineteenth century. Water Pater was one of the most influential forces of Aestheticism in the nineteenth century and greatly influenced a large number of philosophers. Aestheticism includes a certain devotion to art and implies the significance of beauty compared to other principles such as morality. Aestheticism separates art fromShow MoreRelatedThe Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde2792 Words   |  12 Pages The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde In Oscar Wilde’s first novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde strategically uses his main characters Lord Henry Wotton and Basil Hallward to represent good versus evil influences throughout the reading. In the book, Dorian Gray plays the role of the everyman who is in a vicious circle on having to decide between the side of good or evil. Lord Henry is the evil influence and is seen as a more devil-like character while Basil Hallward is the good ChristianityRead MoreThe Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde1523 Words   |  7 PagesReader Response Entry #6: Chapters 10-11 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde was not received well by critics when it was published in 1890. This was because it contained themes of homosexuality and was considered scandalous. Now, it is just considered a philosophical novel dealing with morals. I think that this book would very much be viewed as indecent in Wilde’s time. For example, when talking about Dorian’s public image, Wilde writes, â€Å"Society--civilized society, at least--is never veryRead MoreThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde832 Words   |  3 Pagescharacteristics of self-destructive properties. In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde shows how these can lead to a man’s downfall. He displays this through the character of Dorian Gray. The novel explains how as Dorian grows up and through his life, he is ultimately destroyed by his own ego, vanity and inability to change or realize how what he does affects not only him but the lives of those around him. Dorian Gray struggles throughout the novel with the daunting facts that he isRead MoreThe Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde1414 Words   |  6 Pagesto me†¦(â€Å"Fallenoracle†).† This quote from the tv series Quantico does an effective job of expre ssing what Lord Henry’s influence has done to Dorian Gray throughout the philosophical novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. While some might argue that Dorian s actual nature does not change significantly, an additional perspective is that Dorian Gray is a dynamic character that gains negative character traits by becoming vain of his youth, increasingly paranoid of someone learning of his portraitRead MoreThe Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde1060 Words   |  5 PagesThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical/gothic fiction. Setting: The novel takes place in the peak of the Decadent artistic movement of the 1890s, which occurred in the Victorian era of London and is known for its judgmental social standards, highlighting the contrast between the wealthier, materialistic higher classes and the dull middle-class society, making the novel more audacious. Plot: A famous artist named Basil Hallward completes his first portrait of Dorian Gray: aRead MoreThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde687 Words   |  3 PagesThesis-In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, main character, Dorian Gray , in his times of greatest pain chooses to focus only on what is beautiful which leads to his death and shows that beauty obscures reality. Dorian Grays romantic interest, Sibyl kills herself after an altercation with Dorian; he looks at the nature around him to avoid the reality of the suicide that he has caused. Dorian first sees Sibyl when she acts at a rundown and low quality theater. She acts as many charactersRead MoreThe Picture Of Dorian Gray : Oscar Wilde2014 Words   |  9 PagesAdrian Balakumar Mr.Sal AP Lit 15 December 2014 The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde 1) In the book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, several characteristics of the world have been presented. The author portrays the world as a den of individuals with a skewed view of the immediate environment. The author depicts the world as a place where physical traits like beauty or handsomeness are important than a person’s virtues. Dorian spends his time studying music and other beautiful things that life hasRead MoreThe Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde1731 Words   |  7 PagesMy choice for this summer reading assignment was to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. This is a philosophical fiction novel meaning it devotes a significant portion of the novel to sort the questions that are addressed in discursive philosophy, that can include: the role in society, the purpose of living, ethnic or morals, experience, etc. Throughout history art has played a huge role in portraying the structure of society and how the people play in it.The novel takes place in theRe ad MoreThe Influences of Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray1582 Words   |  7 PagesThe Influences of Oscar Wilde Throughout his life Oscar Wilde had many strong influences exerted upon him. During his early childhood his mother influenced him and into college some of his professors and certain philosophers left a substantial impression upon him. Into adulthood these influences leaked out in his writing. These influences gave him ample ideas for writing The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wildes study of the Hellenistic ideals of Epicurus, his coddled lifestyle as a child and his devotionRead MoreOscar Wilde s The Picture Of Dorian Gray1544 Words   |  7 Pagescelebrity I find that it is inevitable to avoid being a part of some sort of controversy. At the height of Oscar Wilde’s career is where he found himself in just that. Although Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray is praised today, in the late 1800s it was seen by others as a negative shift in society and literature. In the film â€Å"Wilde†, after the release of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde’s wife Constance and his mother Jane have a conversation in regards to the novel that gives insight to