In this paper, it is argued that there is a tension between the natural and the supernatural which contributes to an uncanny atmosphere in Oscar Wilde’s novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". In order to fulfil the objectives of this thesis, this paper applies a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective to interpreting the 1891 version of the novel. Thus, Sigmund Freud’s essay The Uncanny (1919) serves as a basis for the novel’s analysis.
The paper therefore, begins to analyse the supernatural process of (de)humanisation, i.e. it illustrates how the boundaries of Dorian being human and of the portrait being a lifeless object blur. Section 2.2 explores the supernatural (anti)aging process, i.e. it focuses on the supernatural event of Dorian’s portrait aging in his stead while he remains young and beautiful. Section 2.3 emphasises the supernatural process of changing in Dorian’s and his portrait’s character, concentrating on the connection be-tween Dorian’s moral decay and the corresponding changes in his portrait’s appearance.
However, it will be illustrated that not only Dorian is responsible for the changing of the portrait but that the portrait appears to be supernaturally responsible for some of Dorian’s deeds. In section 2.4 the novel’s supernatural ending is presented before a conclusion is drawn in section 3.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The tension between the natural and the supernatural
2.1. The supernatural process of (de)humanisation
2.2. The supernatural process of (anti)aging
2.3. The supernatural process of (in)visible changing in character
2.4. The supernatural ending
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines how the interplay between natural occurrences and supernatural phenomena in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray cultivates an uncanny atmosphere. By applying a Freudian psychoanalytic framework, the study investigates how the blurring of boundaries between Dorian Gray's biological reality and the portrait's supernatural evolution serves as a catalyst for narrative tension and moral reflection.
- The psychological impact of the supernatural "bargain" regarding eternal youth.
- The dehumanization of the protagonist versus the humanization of the art object.
- The psychoanalytic implications of the portrait acting as an "ethical doppelgänger."
- The function of supernatural elements in reflecting Victorian social anxieties.
- The role of "intellectual uncertainty" in maintaining an uncanny narrative tone.
Excerpt from the Book
The supernatural process of (in)visible changing in character
In Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray the eponymous protagonist and his portrait are supernaturally connected throughout the story. Not only is their interdependence noticeable in the supernatural processes of (de)humanisation (see section 2.1) and (anti)aging (see section 2.2). Their supernatural connection is also evident in the portrait visibly reflecting Dorian’s moral decay, i.e. it transforms from something beautiful and pure into something ugly, dark and terrible, arousing “dread and creeping horror” (Freud 1). The portrait’s supernatural transformation from something familiar and non-threatening to something unfamiliar and unsettling therefore, underpins Freud’s notion of “an unsettling ambivalence between the familiar and unfamiliar” (Windsor 51) and thus, creates an omnipresent feeling of uncanniness which strongly increases during the course of the story (Freud 4).
In a supernatural “mirror-like fashion, the portrait represents the otherwise unseen personality of the sitter Dorian Gray” (Mack 147), i.e., while Dorian “remains young and untouched by time, passions, and decay” (Bach 467) the picture ages and “shows signs of his sins and character faults” (ibid.). Dorian’s decay becomes visible in the portrait for the first time when he comes home after his cruel rejection of Sibyl Vane who, as a result, commits suicide.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the novel in its historical context and establishes the psychoanalytic thesis regarding the tension between the natural and the supernatural.
2. The tension between the natural and the supernatural: This core section analyzes how the protagonist’s unnatural existence creates an atmosphere of uncanniness through the blurring of life and art.
2.1. The supernatural process of (de)humanisation: Explores the initial blurring of boundaries between Dorian’s human form and the portrait as an inanimate object.
2.2. The supernatural process of (anti)aging: Discusses the significance of Dorian’s bypassed natural decay and the psychological weight of his immortal state.
2.3. The supernatural process of (in)visible changing in character: Examines how the portrait functions as a mirror for Dorian’s moral corruption and eventual role as a supernatural instigator.
2.4. The supernatural ending: Analyzes the final supernatural reversal where art and reality collide in Dorian’s death.
3. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming how the convergence of real and supernatural elements exposes deep-seated Victorian anxieties and psychological phenomena.
Keywords
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Uncanny, Supernatural, Gothic, Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, Dehumanization, Aging, Doppelgänger, Moral decay, Victorian literature, Intellectual uncertainty, Symbolism, Mortality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the structural and thematic tension between natural and supernatural forces in The Picture of Dorian Gray and how this creates an "uncanny" atmosphere throughout the narrative.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the exchange of the soul for eternal youth, the moral deterioration of the protagonist, the portrait as an independent living entity, and the psychoanalytic concept of the doppelgänger.
What is the overarching research goal?
The goal is to apply a Freudian psychoanalytic framework to prove that the supernatural events in the novel are not merely plot devices but are fundamental to creating the specific uncanny mood of the story.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author primarily utilizes a psychoanalytic method, specifically drawing upon Sigmund Freud’s essay The Uncanny (1919) to interpret the character dynamics and supernatural occurrences.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The body chapters break down the process of dehumanization, the anti-aging mechanism, the visible decay of the portrait as a reflection of character, and the final supernatural resolution of the narrative.
Which keywords classify this research?
Essential keywords include Gothic literature, Oscar Wilde, supernaturalism, psychoanalysis, moral decay, and the uncanny.
How is the portrait perceived as a "living" character?
The paper argues that the portrait loses its status as a piece of art once it ceases to be static, ultimately appearing to possess its own consciousness and an ability to influence Dorian’s actions.
What is the significance of the "doppelgänger" concept here?
The portrait acts as Dorian’s "ethical doppelgänger," representing the visible, decaying conscience that Dorian attempts to hide while simultaneously acting as a harbinger of his eventual death.
Why does the ending of the book remain uncertain?
The narrative maintains "intellectual uncertainty" regarding the specific mechanics of Dorian’s death, leaving the reader to wonder whether it was a supernatural manifestation or a result of internal psychological forces.
- Quote paper
- Julia Ernert (Author), 2022, Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray". The Uncanny Tension Between the Natural and the Supernatural, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1441719
