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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (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
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper analyzes aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, focusing on its causes and consequences within the context of Wilde's beliefs about art and morality. It examines how Wilde's concept of art, as expressed in his essays and preface to the novel, shapes the characters' behavior and moral choices.
- Aestheticism as a rejection of Victorian morality
- The relationship between art, beauty, and morality in Wilde's philosophy
- The impact of aesthetic behavior on the characters' lives
- Wilde's critique of aestheticism within the novel itself
- The role of hedonism and narcissism in shaping aesthetic choices
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. It highlights the novel's revolutionary nature in challenging Victorian societal norms and introduces the central focus on aestheticism, its causes, and consequences. The chapter establishes the importance of understanding Wilde's artistic and moral beliefs as a foundation for interpreting the characters' actions. It outlines the methodology: a close examination of Wilde's views on art, followed by an analysis of the characters (Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, Sibyl Vane, and Dorian Gray) and their relationships to Wilde's aesthetic philosophy. The chapter concludes by previewing the intent to summarize the findings, acknowledging Wilde's own potential critique of aestheticism within the novel.
2. Aestheticism and Wilde's Concept of Art: This chapter delves into the meaning of 'aestheticism,' tracing its origins and highlighting the challenges in providing a singular definition. The focus shifts to Oscar Wilde's interpretation of aestheticism, contrasting its principles with the moral rules and conventions of Victorian society. The chapter examines Wilde's preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray and other works such as The Decay of Lying, analyzing his statements about the artist's role, the nature of art, and the relationship between art and morality. Wilde's assertion that "art is quite useless" is explored, emphasizing the importance of beauty and pleasure as the sole aims of art, irrespective of moral implications. The chapter concludes by emphasizing how Wilde's artistic doctrines lay the groundwork for understanding the protagonist's actions and motivations within the narrative.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Aestheticism, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Victorian morality, art, beauty, morality, hedonism, narcissism, art for art's sake, artistic conventions, moral relativism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*
What is this document?
This is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a research paper analyzing aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray*. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the main topics covered in the research paper?
The research paper analyzes aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, focusing on its causes and consequences within the context of Wilde's beliefs about art and morality. Key themes include aestheticism as a rejection of Victorian morality; the relationship between art, beauty, and morality in Wilde's philosophy; the impact of aesthetic behavior on the characters' lives; Wilde's critique of aestheticism within the novel; and the role of hedonism and narcissism in shaping aesthetic choices.
What is the structure of the research paper?
The research paper is structured as follows: 1. Introduction; 2. Aestheticism and Wilde's Concept of Art; 3. Aesthetic Behavior and Moral Beliefs (with sub-sections on Basil Hallward, Sibyl Vane, Lord Henry Wotton, and Dorian Gray); and 4. Conclusion.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The research aims to analyze how Wilde's concept of art shapes the characters' behavior and moral choices in *The Picture of Dorian Gray*. It examines aestheticism's role as a rebellion against Victorian norms and explores the interplay between art, beauty, and morality in Wilde's philosophy.
What are the chapter summaries?
The Introduction sets the stage, highlighting the novel's revolutionary nature and outlining the methodology. Chapter 2 delves into Wilde's interpretation of aestheticism, contrasting it with Victorian morality and examining his views on art's role and the relationship between art and morality. Chapter 3 analyzes the characters' aesthetic behavior and moral choices in relation to Wilde's philosophy. The Conclusion (not detailed in the preview) would likely summarize the findings and potentially address Wilde's own critique of aestheticism within the novel.
What are the key words associated with this research paper?
Key words include: Aestheticism, Oscar Wilde, *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, Victorian morality, art, beauty, morality, hedonism, narcissism, art for art's sake, artistic conventions, and moral relativism.
What is the methodology of the research paper?
The research employs a close examination of Wilde's views on art, followed by an analysis of the characters (Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, Sibyl Vane, and Dorian Gray) and their relationships to Wilde's aesthetic philosophy.
Who is the intended audience of this document?
The intended audience is likely academic, given the structured and professional nature of the preview and the focus on analyzing themes in a scholarly manner.
Where can I find the full research paper?
The full research paper is not included in this preview. Further information on accessing the complete work would need to be sought from the original source of this preview.
- Quote paper
- Jannis Rudzki-Weise (Author), 2010, Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163015
