This paper will be separated into three main parts. The first examines late-Victorian moral values, literary standards as well as Oscar Wilde´s view of art and its criticism.
The second part explores reactions of the audience, especially the press, to Wilde´s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray..
The third part then critically analyses these arguments and explains the role Victorian values and the resulting literary expectation played in the criticism.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Victorian values and literary standards
III. Reception of The Picture of Dorian Gray
IV. Critical analysis of different opinions and society in context to the story
V. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the initial reception of Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by the Victorian public, analyzing how contemporary moral standards and literary expectations influenced the harsh critical backlash against the work.
- The influence of late-Victorian moral values and social norms on literature.
- The clash between Wilde's principles of Aestheticism and traditional moral criticism.
- Analysis of the negative press reactions and accusations of immorality.
- The role of Victorian societal expectations regarding manliness and "family values" in interpreting the novel.
- The disconnect between the artistic intent of the author and the audience's moral framework.
Excerpt from the Book
Critical analysis of different opinions and society in context to the story
Clearly Oscar Wilde´s book was deemed offensive by Victorian public and sensibilities. Now I will take a closer look at the work and compare it with these accusations in regard to the Victorian expectations.
As mentioned in Chapter II Victorian values consisted basically of cleanliness, health, sincerity (truth), earnestness, morality, manliness and family values. Comparing those values and the critics´ comments mentioned in Chapter III , one will find all these values again. “The foremost is, of course, the morality issue, and the objection was that Wilde had published an account of male friendship that stressed inadmissible homosexual attitudes” (Lawler, 331). These homosexual attitudes, which Victorian society regarded as “vulgar” (Mason, 28) reappear throughout the story in Lippincott´s Magazine.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the paper's tripartite structure, focusing on Victorian values, the press reaction to the novel, and a critical analysis of these interactions.
II. Victorian values and literary standards: Explores the societal norms, religious influences, and rigid moral expectations of the Victorian era that dictated the reception of literature.
III. Reception of The Picture of Dorian Gray: Documents the overwhelmingly negative and often hostile reaction of the English press and public to Wilde's novel upon its release.
IV. Critical analysis of different opinions and society in context to the story: Evaluates specific passages of the novel against Victorian perceptions, demonstrating how the author’s themes challenged contemporary moral frameworks.
V. Conclusion: Summarizes that the negative reception was a consequence of the novel violating the specific moral and cultural expectations of the late-Victorian audience.
Keywords
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Victorian Era, Literary Criticism, Aestheticism, Morality, Public Reception, Decadence, Bildungsroman, Social Norms, Censorship, Homosexuality, 19th Century Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper investigates why Oscar Wilde’s novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" faced such intense hostility and negative criticism from the Victorian public and press.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The study centers on the clash between late-Victorian societal expectations—such as morality, earnestness, and family values—and Wilde’s artistic philosophy of Aestheticism.
What is the main objective or research question?
The work aims to explain how the contemporary moral standards and literary expectations of the Victorian period fundamentally shaped the reception of the novel.
Which scientific method is employed?
The paper utilizes a critical analysis approach, comparing historical literary critiques and contemporary societal norms with the text of the novel itself.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the specific cultural environment of the era, the hostile press reaction, and a detailed analysis of how the novel violated Victorian perceptions of morality and manliness.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Oscar Wilde, Aestheticism, Victorian morality, literary reception, and social norms of the 19th century.
How did Victorian society view the concept of the "Bildungsroman"?
The paper argues that the Victorian public expected a process of initiation leading to self-awareness, and they rejected the novel because it portrayed an "anti-hero" rather than a moral transformation.
Why was the relationship between characters like Basil and Dorian so controversial?
These relationships were seen as violating Victorian moral codes, specifically regarding male friendship and homosexuality, leading to severe public backlash and accusations of "vulgarity."
- Quote paper
- Dominik Wohlfarth (Author), 2003, The initial reception of the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" through the victorian public. An analysis of the standards of the literary critic, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13873
