Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay examples

Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde. The genre of this novel can be classified as a comedy of manners or a gothic novel. The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in 1890 in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. Another version with an additional six chapters was published in 1891. One of the major themes in the novel was the Supremacy of Beauty and Youth. A very attractive man has a portrait painted of himself, and after being warned of the mortality of his youth the man, Dorian, trades his soul to remain young while his portrait bears the markings of his age and evil deeds. Dorian becomes increasingly evil thoughout the novel, while constantly being encouraged by Lord†¦show more content†¦The yellow book represents how art can have a profound and horrible influence over a person. Dorian followed the yellow book as if it were his bible. Allowing him to be completely influenced by it. All of these symbols are recurring symbols in the novel. Dorian Gray meets artist Basil Hallward in his aunt’s, Lady Brandon, estate. Basil was immediately inspired by the striking beauty of young Dorian Gray. Basil has Dorian sit for many portraits, quite a few of which depicted him as a hero from ancient Greece or a mythological figure. At the beginning of the novel Basil is finishing a portrait of Dorian in his true likeness. Basil shares with his friend, Lord Henry Wotton, his reluctance to show his painting because he was worried he had revealed too much about the way he felt for Dorian in painting it. Lord Wotton was known for causing scandals by his irreverent worshipping of youth and beauty and his selfish pursuit of pleasure. Lord Wotton, in true character, tells Basil that the portrait is his greatest masterpiece, admiring the beauty of the young man in portrayed in the painting. While Lord Wotton and Basil were discussing the painting, Dorian arrived at Basil’s studio. Basil did not want Dorian to meet Lord He nry Wotton because he was afraid the Lord Wotton would have a negative influence on Dorian. As soon as Lord Wotton met Dorian he had already began to influence him. It was at this meeting that Lord WottonShow MoreRelated The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray2865 Words   |  12 PagesThe Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray Much of the criticism regarding The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde has dealt with Dorian Gray’s relation to his own portrait (Raby 392). While some may argue that the portrait represents a reflection of Dorian Gray’s character, this is only a superficial analysis of the novel and Dorian’s character. While Dorian Gray’s true character never changes, it is his own perception of his character (his conscience) thatRead More Manipulation in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray 2501 Words   |  11 PagesManipulation in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray  Ã‚        Ã‚  I do not think that one person influences another, nor do I think there is any bad influence in the world, Oscar Wilde uttered when under trial (Hyde 353). Although this statement may be true, one of Wildes most famous works shows a great deal of the effects of people shaping one another, causing one to wonder about Wildes sincerity in that statement. The Picture of Dorian Gray shows variations on the existence and purposesRead MoreAestheticism In Oscar Wildes The Picture Of Dorian Gray1532 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Aestheticism, which found its footing in Europe in the early nineteenth century, proposed that art ‘need not serve moral, political, or otherwise didactic ends.’ Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde was a dramatic leader in promoting the movement near the end of the nineteenth century. The English essayist Walter Pater, an advocate of art for arts sake, helped to form society’s aesthetics in which they was more concerned with the self, than with popular movements like IndustrialismRead MoreEssay on Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray1199 Words   |  5 PagesOscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray - What is the author trying to say about life through this book? Explain why you think so. I am not to sure on exactly what the author is trying to say through this book. I think he is telling us to live a full and moral life. Well I dont think he expects us to lead a completely moral life, but because of the picture of Dorians soul I think he was trying to say lead a good life. He wants us to know that we can sin, its completely normal, but the moreRead MoreArt And Art In Oscar Wildes The Picture Of Dorian Gray835 Words   |  4 Pagesfew, have made their significant contributions to the study. Challenging much of the set outlooks on art and artists are the views of Oscar Wilde. In the preface to his scandalous novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde professes his views on art and artist. The preface to the novel starts with the line, â€Å"the artist is the creator of beautiful things.† Oscar Wilde was deeply inspired by the movement of Aestheticism which went by the propaganda of ‘art for art’s sake’. Art was not supposed toRead MoreOscar Wildes The Picture Of Dorian Gray1807 Words   |  8 Pages Naudiyal,1 INTRODUCTION Oscar Wilde introduces his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, with a reflection on art, the artist, and the utility of both. Dorian uses a mirror to contrast himself with the work of art (one that Lord Henry gave him). In the way of every single extraordinary book, the main novel of Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray offers us little that is new and, obviously, does not open another world for us, but rather still it remains a splendid gem consistently. It is a novelRead MoreAbstract Aestheticism in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray2148 Words   |  9 Pagesexpression, but also one of social advancement. With this idea at its forefront, art suddenly inundated places where art was never previously found, such as social education and morality. In contrast, Oscar Wilde was a key advocate of an idea known aestheticism, a concept that relied on art simply being art. Oscar Wilde played a major role in Victorian England, having a major influence through his writing. At its peak the movement had a disdain for any traditional, natural, political, or moral ideals; ratherRead More Criticism of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay examples1120 Words   |  5 PagesCriticism of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Oscar Wilde originally appeared in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in 1890.   It was then published in 1891, in book form, containing six additional chapters with revisions. The first reviews of Dorian Gray were mostly unfavorable.   It was condemned for its speculative treatment   of immoral or at least uncomfortable subjects. A review in the St. James’s Gazette by Samuel Henry JeyesRead MoreAnalysis Of Oscar Wildes The Picture Of Dorian Gray1118 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novel, â€Å"The Picture of Dorian Gray† Oscar Wilde shows the importance of having an equal balance between the id, superego, and ego, which each character within the novel portrays. When one triumphs the other it may be detrimental to oneself, as well to society as a whole. Sigmund Freud developed psychodynamic theories of personality that â€Å"view human behavior as a dynamic interaction between the conscious and unconscious mind† (Myers 514). He focuses on the importance of the equal balance toRead MoreThemes, Motifs and Symbols in Oscar Wilde’s the Picture of Dorian Gray1436 Words   |  6 PagesThemes, motifs and symbols in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray The only published novel by Oscar Wilde, which appeared in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in 1890, was seen as immoral and scandalous, so the editors of the magazine censored about five hundred words without Wilde’s knowledge. Even with that, the novel was not received very well. Disappointed with this, Wilde revised his novel, added a preface, where he explains his philosophy of art, and six new chapters. Since Wilde was devoted