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Critique on dorian gray
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"there is no such thing as a moral or immoral book" (Wilde), this novel has a deep and meaningful purpose that with the absence of religion, of faith, of value for human life, separates characters like Wilde's Dorian Gray from the just and humane people from ones that are monsters. Through vivid language about all aspects of life the reminder to todays society is clear and the meaning of the work as a whole is enhanced which is, that the creation of true beauty is cultivated by the purest intentions, that when a person is abled to see people soul instead of the appearance and that when a person can make a mistake and learn from it is when they are truly beautiful. Dorians ambiguity is what heightens this message to the readers because he is
Within The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde depicts two characters that follow the philosophy of Walter Pater. These two characters are Dorian Gray and Henry Wotton. They both embody Pater’s ideal of placing as much enjoyment in one’s short life as possible. While Dorian learns of Pater’s philosophy from Henry he soon exceeds his teacher and becomes invested within the philosophy of living life to the fullest. Dorian exceeds Henry in Pater’s philosophy through his active experimentation and desire for beauty, but Dorian fails to live up to all of Pater’s expectations due to his inability to separate morality for art.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Michael Patrick Gillespie, Editor. Norton Critical Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007.
Dorian, representing the very impressionable and changing population, became so involved with himself, that religion was no longer a factor in his life. He let society determine his values and morals, which led to him not having any at all. When he finally did try to repent, it was too late. Just like it is going to be for mankind. Wilde wrote it to show his disappointment in popular culture through Dorian. He views our consciences just like the characters of Lord Henry and Basil. There is a fine line between good and bad, and people’s choices alone determine what they
Obsession in its nature is toxic; it turns people into gods, and leaves no room for their actual selves. Celebrities are the idols of the modern world, where ever they go, a fan follows them dying to get their attention. Dorian Gray, who was loved by nearly all of London for his charm and beauty, who’s biggest fan, Basil, worship of him lead to bitterness. The theme of obsession in The Picture of Dorian Gray is seen through both those who worship Dorian Gray, and the portrait, which is the object of Dorian's obsession. Although Wilde displays obsession through Basil's worship of Dorian, and even Dorian's obsession with himself and his youth, the modern day celebrity is a parallel to Dorian, who is worshipped by many at first for their beauty, wealth or fame, but the nature of the worship eventually leads to chaos.
A critical analysis of Oscar Wildes only novel would yield that it is in fact a homosexual allegory of doomed, forbidden passion. The relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian, as well as Basil and Dorian is, clearly Homoerotic and must’ve shocked Victorian society.
Known to assume a myriad of guises—a platonic friend, a sensual mistress, a loving spouse, an idealized deity—an artist's muse, in the traditional sense, possesses bewitching inherent characteristics that embolden ordinary men to craft profound masterpieces. Deliberately shrouded in melodrama and mystique, a muse's traits are often idealized with their circumstantial virtues hyperbolized by their artist, while conversely, their critical character flaws are neglected or even omitted (Craft). Dorian Gray, the titular protagonist of Oscar Wilde’s novella The Picture of Dorian Gray, exemplifies all aspects of the muse archetype with his stunning looks and grace that inspired his friend the Artist Basil Hallward to capture Dorian’s picturesque figure in art. Although Basil originally intended for his exquisite portrait to preserve Dorian’s beauty, it ironically evolves to represent Dorian’s guilt, regrets, and corruption that result from his excessively hedonistic
In Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray’s true nature is revealed through a graceful portrait that a man by the name of Basil Hallward paints. This painting resembles Dorian’s beauty and purity. “When he saw it he dre...
The idea that The Picture of Dorian Gray is a heavily aesthetic novel is very true because the central theme of the novel is that art should only exist to be art.
Oscar Wilde’s 19th century “The Picture of Dorian Gray” portrays a young, naive man, Dorian Gray, who begins to change because of Lord Henry’s negative influence on him. Wilde first portrays Dorian as a sweet, sensitive man whom everyone admires, he was described as a “wonderful young man”. Dorian was not concerned with money or power, however, once he met Lord Henry Wotton through a mutual friend, Basil Hallward, it was simply the beginning of the end of him, because eventually Lord Henry’s influence pollutes his mind. Lord Henry gives Dorian a book about a man who seeks beauty in evil pleasures, Dorian slowly, but steady becomes his “prey”. This essay will examine the dynamic personality and changes that happen to the character of Dorian Gray as a result of Lord Henry’s impact on him, Dorian’s own attempts of transformation and lastly, his realization of corruption.
A Rewrite of the Ending (Chapter XX) of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Oscar Wilde, is a novel that tells about a young man who on the outside portrays a moral life; however, on the inside he was corrupt to the core. Morality is the distinction between right and wrong behavior. Dorian seemed to change his morality throughout the story to fit his personal behavior. By the end of the story, he does not know what good is anymore.
The novel underscores its disapproval of aestheticism which negatively impacts the main characters. Each of the three primary characters is an aesthete and meets some form of terrible personal doom. Basil Hallward's aestheticism is manifested in his dedication to his artistic creations. He searches in the outside world for the perfect manifestation of his own soul, when he finds this object, he can create masterpieces by painting it (Bloom 109). He refuses to display the portrait of Dorian Gray with the explanation that, "I have put too much of myself into it" (Wilde 106). He further demonstrates the extent to which he holds this philosophy by later stating that, "only the artist is truly reveled" (109). Lord Henry Wotton criticizes Basil Hallward that, "An artist should create beautiful things but should put nothing of his own life into them" (Wilde 25). Ironically, the purpose of Basil Hallward's existence is that he is an aesthete striving to become one with his art (Eriksen 105). It is this very work of art which Basil refuses to display that provides Dorian Gray with the idea that there are no consequences to his actions. Dorian has this belief in mind when he murders Basil. Here we see that the artist is killed for his excessive love of physical beauty; the same art that he wished to merge with is the cause of his mortal downfall (Juan 64).
There are so many factors making our choices constrained and even influencing our decisions and thoughts. In The picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian, a beautiful and innocent young man was affected by his portrait, Lord Henry who Dorian trusted him with no reason, and the yellow book which was given by Henry. The wish Dorian made came true. His portrait would change and Dorian stayed who he was. But, facing the horrible changes of his portrait, Dorian started blaming the painter who should not painted of him so that he murdered the painter. Dorian did not really feel guilty about the death of the painter and he still went to the poor area taking opium as enjoying the “new hedonism” which Lord Henry taught him. And, he was even addicted it so that he did not care anyone’s death. From the yellow book, Dorian found out he was similar to the hero that he treated it as scripture so he bought a lot of copied of it and built his life based on it. Dorian is so addicted to the things influencing on him so that he makes a lot of unexpected results. But, he still has his free will to act the ways he wants rather than fascinated on the things which do not belong to him.
In a society where we must constantly uphold an appearance, eternal youth seems to be something everyone longs for. Some things however, are too good to be true. Explored within The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde are the consequences of this idea. Consumed with evil, the title character seizes to age. Halting him from displaying a single imperfection, leading to his ultimate destruction. The man who holds responsibility in the main character's downfall comes into question. While Lord Henry, the main antagonist, is partially to blame, he merely serves as a beginning to Dorians twisted road of wickedness. Given a multitude of chances to change, the man refuses, constantly denying his moral failings and knowingly ruining lives. Therefore
Set in the late 19th Century, Oscar Wilde wrote his only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is a story about debauchery and corruption of innocence and well known as a "Gothic melodrama." Violent twists and a sneaky plot make this novel a distinct reflection of human pride and corrupt nature.