The Picture of Dorian Grey Aestheticism Ethics and Art

**A Discussion on Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde**

The Film of Dorian Grayness is a complex book as the thematic message of the volume is unclear upon first reading. However, a clear commentary on Aestheticism is seen throughout the novel. This is manifested primarily in three means. Firstly, the tension between hedonism and morality is represented by the characters. Secondly, Aestheticism is characterised as a move for the Dignity and is contrasted confronting the working class. Thirdly, a tenet of Aestheticism — liberal individualism — is presented as opposed to influence from public pressure, conveyed by the influence of Lord Henry on Dorian Gray. Both these themes provide understanding into the Artful Movement in the 19th century, while the critical reception it received signal towards the opposition confronting this as there were more conservative and moral views existence held by nearly of the society. It would also be interesting to talk over Aestheticism from the parallels of Dorian Grey with Oscar Wilde'due south personal life. Today, the reception of the book has been positive and can be seen as a Literary archetype. When related to the contemporary world, the discussion of Aestheticism remains relevant though in a modified form. I will discuss my views on Aestheticism and propose my interpretation of the overall thematic message of the novel.

Introduction to the Issues

Publication of the Novel

The novel was first published in 1890 in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine subject to censorship by the magazine'southward editor who feared offending the conservative moral perspective of book reviewers. Wilde later edited some sections exploring the homosexuality between Basil and Dorian and the revised novel was published in 1891 ("Uncensored Picture of Dorian Grayness", 2011).

The Aesthetic Movement

Aestheticism was an art movement in the 19th century that can best be explained by the saying "art for art's sake" ("The Artful Movement", 2011). It revolved around seeing ane'south identity in the fine art created, and yet recognising its distinctiveness. There were critics around this movement equally aestheticism was also related to decadence, and strong criticism against portraiture which was associated with vanity (Christensen, 2019). This movement undermined the moral value which most in the Victorian civilization, had perceived was necessary in art. Indeed, information technology was a stark difference from the Neoclassicist movement which was characterised by stability, balance, and rationality and dominated the arts in paintings, literature, compages, and classical music.

Aestheticism in the Novel

In the novel, all three of the chief characters — Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, and Lord Henry, remark on the beauty of the portrait, showing their views were aligned with Aestheticism. Apart from the portrait, which was the most prominent symbol, art was also showcased in the operas perfumed by Sibyl Vane, architecture, and music. Dorian's infatuation for Sibyl is significant as he loves her because "she is all the great heroines of the globe in one" (Wilde, 2012), showcasing a love for her fine art of acting rather than as an private. The lengthy prose describing the creative intricacies and valuable particular in the houses of the dignity best conveyed by Lord Henry, also showcases the decadence in that period. The novel can be seen every bit a microcosm of the 19th century Artful motion equally it explores the tenets of Aestheticism through its characters.

Assay of the Novel

Aestheticism Portrayed by Characters

Aestheticism's prioritisation on beauty over morals is represented by Lord Henry's hedonistic worldview where he states that morality and religion are the "maladies of mediaevalism" and prevents order from returning to the "Hellenic ideal" of beauty (Wilde, 2012).

Aestheticism's focus was similar to Hellenistic art in its focus on the individual and their emotional state. Even so, it shows a stark dissimilarity when contextualised against the morality of the Victorian culture, foreshadowing the initial critical reception of the novel.

On the other end of the spectrum, Basil is the representation of virtue where he criticises Lord Henry's corrupting nature and subsequently berates Dorian for his growing narcissism and hunt for pleasures. However, Basil besides showcases another tenet of Aestheticism which is the "idolatry" he feels towards Dorian's beauty and tries to replicate in his portrait (Wilde, 2012).

Dorian's appreciation of his own youthful beauty, which is the primary bailiwick of the book, is then farthermost that he makes 'the devil'south deal' to trade his soul for the beauty in the portrait. In the 19th century, where Europe was withal quite religious, this would accept been a bold thing to write about. The fact that Lord Henry cannot remember the bible verse "what does it profit a man if he proceeds the whole globe and lose — how does the quotation run? — his ain soul?" shows that the religious and moral aspects are undermined to seek for pleasures which he states one should "yield to" rather than "resist" (Wilde, 2012).

Aestheticism for the Nobility

Furthermore, Aestheticism is seen as a movement for the nobles. There is a stark dissimilarity in the imagery used to draw the houses of the nobility represented by Lord Henry and Dorian Gray, against the working class equally represented past Sibyl, James Vane, and the characters in the dim-looking opium den. Lord Henry is unmoved past Sibyl'southward suicide and influences Dorian to call back the aforementioned way equally "the girl never really lived" except in the aesthetically awakened experience of Dorian (Fritz, 2013). Dorian also comments that the "common people" become so transformed in the operas that "one feels that they are of the same flesh and blood every bit oneself". The nobilities believe that only they can appreciate the beauty of fine art and are therefore superior to the working class. In the latter half of the volume, Dorian stops visiting operas and parties as he is shunned by his friends. Instead, he goes to live in the outskirts for periods of fourth dimension and even visits the dim opium den one night where he meets James Vane. The contrast in settings might show a downfall into the less aesthetic, more than sinful, and poorer part of gild.

The superiority of the nobles was seen throughout Europe in the 19th century where there was a "culture of things" and highly visible and excessive possessions were an expression of status, aslope the appreciation of the arts, where attending operas and listening to classical music fabricated upwards the highbrow civilisation (Rietbergen, 2015). Past then, the intellectuals and country-owning dignity had joined the upper course and pursued leisure as seen in the novel'due south characters who visited operas, or dined at each other's houses while existence served by their servants.

Individualism as a part of Aestheticism

When the novel is viewed from a broader perspective, Wilde conveys his arguments for individualism over that of public pressure. He was arguing against socialism in that menses and radically proposed riot in a separate essay, 'The Soul of Man Under Socialism' (Fritz, 2013). Some semblance of these ideas tin can as well be found in the novel though it is argued in relation to individualism in Art. Lord Henry argues against the power of influence "to influence a person is to give him one'south ain soul". It is thus ironic that Lord Henry is the primary influence on Dorian's innocence at the start and creates an opposing interpretation between — Dorian being innately immoral or, a victim of Lord Henry's corrupting influence. It seems that Wilde is attempting to portray the latter as he emphasises on the influence of Lord Henry, and this is aligned to his personal belief in individualism.

This idea of individualism and being complimentary from the government and societal norms, is very alike the Enlightenment movement where Immanuel Kant argued for "independent thinkers" and a "reasonable appreciation of man'southward value and of his duty to think for himself" (Rietbergen, 2015). A large part of the Enlightenment was driven by science, and this was also showcased in the novel when Dorian Gray is not distressed by his murder of Basil merely calmly blackmails his scientist friend, Alan Campbell. He is portrayed every bit totally disconnected from the religious and societal norms which would cause the individual'south distress over a murder.

Oscar Wilde's Life Mirrors Dorian Grey'south

Taking a step back, Oscar Wilde'due south personal life is surprisingly alike Dorian's life which gives united states of america some insights into the similarities in the novel and the social context in which the novel was written. Wilde noted the similarity in a letter "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be — in other ages, peradventure" (Fritz, 2013). The scandals which Dorian suffers as society gossips about his immoral experiences and bargain with the devil, is mirrored in the criticism that Wilde received when this novel was first published in Lippincott'due south magazine due to its immorality and homoerotic scenes. The book was then used every bit bear witness confronting him at the Former Bailey trial in 1895 where he was then imprisoned for homosexual acts and subsequently died in exile (Wilde, 2012). Peradventure Wilde did, to some extent, achieve his aspiration of becoming like Dorian. This parallel shows that the societal views held past Basil and the other characters speaking against immorality were authentic to 19th century views as Wilde was persecuted for like reasons — seeking perceived 'immoral' homosexual pleasures which did not sit down well with the bourgeois moral standards then.

This parallel is likewise fitting, given that a key tenant of Aestheticism is for the artist to put their own identity into the Art. Basil and Dorian both identify themselves with the painting, with Basil lamenting that he had "put too much of (himself) into (the painting)", referring to his feelings for Dorian which he had kept a secret. If Wilde had not written such scandalous homoerotic scenes, he might have been able to proceed his secret from being exposed only as Basil might accept been able to continue his feelings for Dorian a secret. Wilde's novel became the very thing that caused his downfall and eventually expiry, akin the portrait that Dorian gives his soul to, and eventually tries to rip and dies from.

Contemporary World and Reflections

Positive Reception of the Novel Today

Today, the book is appreciated equally a Literary masterpiece alongside other similar popular texts such as The Scarlet Letter of the alphabet and other books by Charles Dickens. Personally, I believe that the novel is appreciated globally due to its superb writing manner and historical context. Its 4.ane stars rating on Goodreads (goodread.com) is a testament to its positive reception among mainstream audiences who are able to appreciate the main theme of Aestheticism, amongst others such as Vanity and Narcissism which are possibly more relevant to the contemporary globe.

Aestheticism in Dark Academia Class

After reading a few novels of this similar gothic theme and influence from social media, I came across the "Dark Academia" trend — a manner and lifestyle aesthetic reminiscent of the 19th century that was popularised by social media, particularly TikTok. It centres around "higher education, writing/poetry, the arts, and archetype Greek and Gothic compages" ("TikTok's Night Academia…", 2021). This internet subculture promotes the reading of classics including The Movie of Dorian Greyness, alongside a traditional academic look and has clustered a huge online following. Personally, I perceive the hobbies to be rather pretentious and amusing in the gimmicky globe, though I am attracted to the fashion. The fact that this community was able to grow and then rapidly shows that people have the interest to be within a community that idealises beauty and a certain time menstruum, alike how the Europeans and in the novel Lord Henry, had idealised the past Greek and Hellenistic beauty.

Relevance of Aestheticism in the Contemporary World

Aestheticism may not be as relevant today as it was in the past. Nearly 'high-brow' activities like visiting museums are non that common today, giving mode for other forms of modern entertainment. Furthermore, discussions on morality today have largely been reduced to religious spaces.

However, other tenets of Aestheticism continue to exist seen today, albeit in modified forms. The 'conspicuous consumption' of luxury goods past the wealthy is still seen in contemporary times though consumption is at present for the masses, then the rich must set up themselves apart by other means. They customise their items or visit bazaar stores with more artistically created rather than mass-produced commodities. This signals that societal validation from aesthetic things may be an innate human nature as people from historical times had acted the same manner. I have noticed however, that this may also be socially influenced as a stronger materialistic culture is seen more in adult and traditionally hierarchical economies such as South korea and first-tier cities in Red china as opposed to more traditionally egalitarian societies.

Revised Views of the Novel

When I start read this novel 3 years ago, my understanding of it was express and superficial and I viewed the novel equally a general criticism of vanity and immorality. Upon reading reviews for the assignment, I was very surprised to find out that Oscar Wilde was writing about Aestheticism, and it changed my central interpretation of the novel. Agreement the views in that period through this module has allowed me to contextualise the characters' ideas which gave me a more than accurate interpretation of the message that Wilde was trying to convey.

My revised interpretation of the novel is that although Wilde was a proponent of Aestheticism, he was warning confronting the dangers of pursuing an ideal and creative self which is divide from i'south real life. Therefore, the overall thematic message that Wilde was trying to convey is to appreciate the beauty of fine art but to understand that perfect art and the imperfect homo status is and should remain separate (Gomel, 2004). This is beautifully encapsulated in a quote from the preface "The morality of fine art consists in the perfect utilise of an imperfect medium" (Wilde, 2012).

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Source: https://medium.com/@shana.chia/a-discussion-on-aestheticism-in-the-picture-of-dorian-gray-by-oscar-wilde-15da36e5f023