Oscar Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, can be considered a revolutionary piece of literature not only because it broke out of the traditional value and belief pattern of the Victorian society but also because it replaced the traditional pattern with new concepts coined by Wilde and his former tutors.
Several themes such as homoeroticism, an aesthetic lifestyle or
influence and corruption, were issues that many had been afraid to address in the time before Wilde.
In this research paper, I will place my main focus on the matter of
aestheticism, the causes that it has and the consequences that result from an aesthetic lifestyle. In order to analyze these aspects, it is inevitable to have a closer look at Oscar Wilde’s beliefs about art and morality which serve as a basis for understanding the main character’s behavior in the novel.
To begin my paper, I will outline Wilde’s thoughts on art and
aestheticism as presented in his famous selection, Intentions, which consists of a number of essays and dialogues on aesthetics as well as his preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray that has been regarded as Wilde’s personal praise of aestheticism. This background information is essential to understanding the main character’s motivations in the story, which can often be related to Wilde’s
life as an artist.
I will then make a detailed analysis of the characters Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, Sibyl Vane and Dorian Gray and will explain how their aesthetic behavior and their moral beliefs can be linked to Wilde’s thoughts.
To end, I will attempt to summarize my findings referring to the
statement that Wilde also included criticism of aestheticism in his novel.
The term ‘aestheticism’ derives from Greek, meaning “perceiving through senses” and is a nineteenth-century European concept that rejects the moral rules and conventions of Victorian society, and focuses instead on beauty and the resulting pleasure in life.
Since it is hard to nail down ‘aestheticism’ to one definition and since it has different meanings to different people, I will take a closer look at Oscar Wilde's thoughts about this concept, in order to better understand the correlation between this idea, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
When it was first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20
June 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray was attacked fiercely as it suggested a new set of moral beliefs.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Aestheticism and Wilde’s Concept of Art
3. Aesthetic Behavior and Moral Beliefs
3.1 Basil Hallward
3.2 Sibyl Vane
3.3 Lord Henry Wotton and New Hedonism
3.4 Dorian Gray and Narcissism
4. Conclusion
5. Works Cited
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the influence of Aestheticism on the characters in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, investigating how their pursuit of aesthetic beauty and pleasure conflicts with traditional Victorian morality. The research seeks to determine whether Wilde's novel serves as an endorsement of an aesthetic lifestyle or as a cautionary critique of its consequences when divorced from ethical constraints.
- Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s core doctrines on art, aestheticism, and hedonism.
- Evaluation of the aesthetic behavior and moral decay of key characters: Basil Hallward, Sibyl Vane, Lord Henry Wotton, and Dorian Gray.
- Examination of the psychological and social implications of "New Hedonism."
- Critique of the destructive potential of an unbridled aesthetic lifestyle.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Basil Hallward
Even though Basil seems to be less interesting than Dorian or Lord Henry on the surface, his character deserves to have much attention paid to it, since Wilde himself remarked that “’Basil Hallward is what I think I am’” (Charlesworth 396). Being a pseudo-mirror image of Wilde, several critics regard Basil Hallward as the central character in the novel (Kohl 250).
The artist Basil Hallward is referred to as “the painter” (Wilde 5) throughout the novel, which emphasizes his solidarity with art which influences his attitudes towards art and beauty. He understands his obligation as an artist and works according to Wilde’s statement from the preface: “to reveal art and conceal the artist is art’s aim” (Wilde 3). Hallward's understanding of his artistic responsibilities becomes blatantly clear when he states that, “an artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them” (Wilde 13). Basil also agrees with Wilde’s concept of aesthetic beauty by mentioning that, “it had all been what art should be – unconscious, ideal and remote” (Wilde 92). To summarize, the painter had created art for the sake of beauty and without any further-reaching thoughts, following the main ideals of Wilde's new aestheticism perfectly.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Presents the revolutionary nature of Wilde's novel and outlines the research focus on aestheticism, its causes, and its consequences for the characters.
2. Aestheticism and Wilde’s Concept of Art: Analyzes Wilde’s aesthetic doctrines and the manifesto of art for art’s sake, emphasizing the disconnect between art and morality.
3. Aesthetic Behavior and Moral Beliefs: Explores the practical application of aesthetic ideals through the specific lives and downfalls of the novel’s four main protagonists.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, arguing that Wilde presents a critique of unbridled aestheticism while acknowledging its complexity.
5. Works Cited: Lists the academic literature and critical sources utilized for this study.
Keywords
Aestheticism, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, New Hedonism, Victorian Society, Art for Art’s Sake, Basil Hallward, Sibyl Vane, Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian Gray, Narcissism, Morality, Self-realization, Beauty, Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the philosophy of Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, specifically analyzing the causes and consequences of leading an aesthetic lifestyle.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The themes include the relationship between art and morality, the impact of aesthetic doctrines on personal behavior, and the eventual destruction of characters who ignore ethical boundaries.
What is the central research question?
The central goal is to determine how the characters' aesthetic behaviors align with or deviate from Wilde’s theories and to ascertain if the novel functions as a critique of unchecked aestheticism.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, drawing upon Wilde’s essays, prefaces, and secondary academic criticism to interpret character development within the novel.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body provides detailed character studies of Basil Hallward, Sibyl Vane, Lord Henry Wotton, and Dorian Gray, mapping their individual journeys and moral philosophies.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Aestheticism, New Hedonism, Narcissism, Victorian morality, and the critique of the "art for art's sake" principle.
How does Basil Hallward serve as a surrogate for Wilde?
The author notes that Wilde identified Basil as a "pseudo-mirror image" of himself, making Basil a central figure for understanding the conflict between the artist's life and their creations.
What is the significance of the "New Hedonism" in the novel?
Lord Henry Wotton introduces New Hedonism as a pursuit of self-development and passionate experience, which ultimately leads to Dorian Gray’s moral degradation and downfall.
Why does the author argue that the novel is not wholly embracing aestheticism?
The author concludes that by depicting the tragic downfalls of the characters, Wilde warns against an uncontrolled aestheticism that discards moral responsibility.
- Quote paper
- Jannis Rudzki-Weise (Author), 2010, Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/163015
