The dandy has been one of the most fascinating and impressive phenomena of the 19th century. Even today, he seems to be an influence to some modern men. But what was the dandy, and how is he presented in literature, the place of his creation? Lord Arthur Goring, the dandy in Oscar Wilde´s An Ideal Husband, is a narcissistic layabout with a colourful and complex personality, full of contradictions: He is at the same time cynical and mild, cold and compassionate, modern and aristocratic.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Discussion
III. Resumé
IV. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the archetype of the dandy in Oscar Wilde’s literature, specifically focusing on the character of Lord Arthur Goring in the play "An Ideal Husband" and comparing him to figures in "The Picture of Dorian Gray". It explores the intersections of narcissism, performative identity, Victorian societal hypocrisy, and the aesthetic philosophy that defines the dandy as a modern yet alienated outsider.
- The role of the dandy as a "well-dressed philosopher" and narcissistic observer in Victorian society.
- Wilde’s critique of Victorian moral hypocrisy and the suppression of emotion.
- Comparative analysis of Lord Arthur Goring and Dorian Gray regarding their relationship with the "audience".
- The manifestation of modernity, passivity, and the "art of self-fashioning" within dandyism.
Excerpt from the Book
The Narcissism of the Dandy
I have stated above that Lord Arthur Goring is a narcissus. Narcissism is the habit of admiring yourself too much, especially your appearance. It stems from the Greek myth of Ovid, in which Narcissus, the androgynous (both male and female characteristics) son of a sea-god and a nymph, falls in love with himself. He is attractive but without a deep soul, and he is too proud to requite the love of the boys and girls who are attracted to him. Instead he falls in love with his mirror image in the water, and eventually he falls into it and drowns. A narcissus only loves himself and that is stated very clearly in Lord Goring´s famous quote:
Lord Goring: `Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.` …Lord Goring: `To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance… .`
A dandy is too obsessed with himself to have a real relationship with another person. The Narcissus myth is even more obvious in The picture of Dorian Gray, since Dorian is of androgynous beauty and not capable of self-knowledge. He is too much obsessed with his beauty and surface, and not interested enough in his soul or mind. He also, as Narcissus, falls in love with his mirror image, his portrait. Lord Goring combines depth and surface, he is, as stated above, "the first well-dressed philosopher in the history of thought". He is in need of the people, he regards them as an audience that admires and loves him, but from a distance. This love to the crowd is very typical for narcissism. Goring gets his love from the audience, this is his real relationship, as it was for Wilde as well, in a normal relationship the dandy doesn´t get what he wants.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Provides an overview of the dandy as a cultural phenomenon and introduces the research focus on Oscar Wilde’s "An Ideal Husband" and the character Viscount Goring.
II. Discussion: Analyzes the plot of the play, the psychological makeup of the dandy, and the performative nature of Goring’s morality in contrast to the rigid Victorian societal standards.
III. Resumé: Synthesizes the findings, reflecting on the modernity and alienation of the dandy while drawing parallels between Victorian societal pressures and contemporary individualistic tendencies.
IV. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources utilized for the research of this paper.
Keywords
Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dandyism, Narcissism, Aestheticism, Victorianism, Lord Arthur Goring, Performance, Hypocrisy, Modernity, Social Critique, Homoeroticism, Identity, Literature
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the literary figure of the dandy, specifically examining Lord Arthur Goring in Oscar Wilde’s "An Ideal Husband" as an embodiment of specific aesthetic and philosophical ideals.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study covers 19th-century literature, the socio-cultural critique of the Victorian era, the psychological concept of narcissism, and the aesthetic movement "l'art pour l'art".
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how the dandy functions as an outsider who uses irony and self-fashioning to navigate and critique the hypocrisies of Victorian society.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper uses a literary and analytical approach, combining character analysis of Wilde’s plays and novels with historical and sociological context regarding Victorian morality and dandyism.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section investigates the plot of "An Ideal Husband," the definition of dandyism, the comparison between Goring and Dorian Gray, and the relationship between the dandy and their need for an audience.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Dandyism, Narcissism, Victorianism, Aestheticism, and Performative Identity.
How does the author characterize Lord Arthur Goring’s morality?
The author argues that while Goring appears cynical and cool, he is actually the most moral and honest character in the play because he refuses to participate in the hypocritical social games of others.
Does the author see the dandy as a predecessor to modern media stars?
Yes, the author notes that both the dandy and the modern celebrity share a reliance on the audience's attention and a narcissistic desire for universal love.
How is the relationship between narcissism and the dandy explained?
The author relates the dandy to the myth of Narcissus, suggesting that both possess an androgynous quality and a preoccupation with their own image, which precludes them from forming traditional, deep relationships.
- Quote paper
- Martin Lieb (Author), 2001, Lord Arthur Goring - Oscar Wilde's Dandy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91578
