Oscar Wilde’s novel, Dorian Gray, remains one of the most renowned pieces of literature in the English language, and while it continues to draw readers in, the question of why Wilde wrote it remains an object of speculation. Wilde was certainly an established and acclaimed author and poet by the time he composed the book, and his life provided the foundation for his motives.
Wilde had a deep appreciation for art, which served as a major factor in his decision to write Dorian Gray. He believed that through art, beauty could be captured, held, and shared. He was also a strong advocate for realism, which lent itself to the complex story of Dorian’s character that is based upon Wilde’s own experiences.
Critics have long argued that Wilde was attempting to communicate an allegory with Dorian Gray, noting parallels between the book’s main character and Wilde himself. There is a similarity between Dorian’s urge to make beauty a part of his soul and Wilde’s own experiences of embracing art into his life. Furthermore, Wilde used the book as a vehicle for his own philosophy, as it speaks to themes of morality, responsibility, and even love.
It can also be argued that Wilde wrote Dorian Gray in order to make a statement about the Victorian era, which he lived in. Much of the novel’s content focuses on the societal pressure of people to conform to their assigned roles and the idea of self-improvement, topics that were so important to the burgeoning Empire. While social norms of the time were used to inspire the book, Dorian Gray bucked the conventions of the day by enabling the characters to break free from the prescriptive religious morality.
In contrast to the story’s presentation of an idealized life, Dorian Gray also portrayed Wildes own view that there are negative aspects of life that cannot be escaped. Wilde was no stranger to tragedy, having experienced personal tragedies in his own life, such as the death of his own father, and Dorian Gray serves as a form of catharsis for his pain and the pain of others.
It would be inaccurate to say that Wilde only wrote Dorian Gray as a vehicle to promote his own ideologies and to comment on the Victorian era. Ultimately, Wilde was an artist and his works were largely driven by passion and an appreciation of beauty. He sought to create something that would educate people on the importance of beauty and the consequences of becoming too attached to it, an idea that resonates even today.
Wilde’s Influences and Sources for Dorian Gray
When analyzing why Wilde wrote Dorian Gray, it is important to understand his various influences and sources who aided him in creating the novel. Many of these sources have come to light in recent years, along with their influence on Wilde’s story.
Wilde found some of his major inspirations from other authors in the late Victorian era, such as George Eliot and Thomas Carlyle. These authors’ works frequently stressed the importance of truth, morality, and secular humanism, all of which are heavily featured in Dorian Gray. Similarly, Wilde was undoubtedly familiar with the works of Charles Dickens, who often wrote about the detrimental effects of industrialism, a topic which also features sharply in Dorian Gray.
Aside from authors, Wilde was also inspired by historical figures. For example, two of his contemporary painters, John Singer Sargent and John Everett Millais, had a profound influence on Wilde’s attitudes towards art and beauty. Millais was renowned for his realistic style and exploring the notion of beauty in his pieces, which informed Wilde’s own journey with the character of Dorian Gray.
In addition, Wilde made use of the opinions of various individuals, both religious and atheist, to round out his views on morality and the effects of a dissolute lifestyle, which Dorian Gray ultimately expresses. These sources informed the depth of the novel and allowed Wilde to add nuance to his characters and views.
Finally, Wilde had a great appreciation of Greek and Roman mythology, which added to his exploration of the dichotomies between truth and realism, as well as the beauty of youth versus the harshness of aging. In particular, Wilde was inspired by the myth of Narcissus, whose character is echoed in Dorian Gray’s concern over his own perceived beauty.
Wilde’s Reception of the Novel
While initially successful and much praised, Dorian Gray received some criticism at the time its publication. After being rejected for serialization by Lippincott’s Magazine, the novel was published in novel form in June 1890 by Ward Lock and Co. This contained a revised version of chapter six from the first edition, which had been deleted from the previous edition due to its explicit content.
As an aestheticist, Wilde was already accustomed to the critique of his contemporaries, but with Dorian Gray, the novel’s themes of morality and decadence, along with its provocative content, made Wilde an easy target for the moralists of the time. In particular, Wilde responded to the fact that some of his contemporaries considered the novel immoral, by simply responding that life itself was far more immoral than his work of fiction.
Despite the criticism and difficulties surrounding its publication, Dorian Gray has become one of the most acclaimed works of literature in the English language. Its themes of beauty, morality, and art have been analyzed throughout academia, and it continues to draw readers in with each passing year. This success is likely due to Wilde’s well-crafted characters and detailed story, which readers continue to relate to and find solace in to this day.
The Impact of Dorian Gray in Today’s World
Even though Dorian Gray was written more than a hundred years ago, the novel has remained relevant in today’s world. Its commentary on mortality, vanity, and the pursuit of beauty still appliestoday, and the novel provides readers with a way to explore these topics in a more frivolous context.
The book has inspired many modern art forms as well, including films, music, and fashion. On its own, the novel has been adapted multiple times into films and television series, as well as being referenced in books, albums, and music videos. Additionally, the fashion industry has seen the influence of Wilde’s novel in its designs, which often feature comfort and classically beautiful designs that bring to mind the ornate and finely crafted aesthetics of the Victorian era.
The influence of Dorian Gray is particularly evident when looking at tattoos. Today, tattoos are often used to commemorate memories, events, and personal beliefs, as Wilde does with Dorian’s portrait. Many people who have tattoos of the novel’s infamous character cite Dorian’s struggle, his beauty, and the longevity of the story as the main reason the book is personal to them.
Wilde’s novel has become something of a global phenomenon, as it continues to draw in both new and old readers alike. Anyone looking for an insightful exploration of morality, beauty, and personal strength can find solace in the lessons Wilde has left behind with Dorian Gray.
Analysis and Comparison to Other Works
One of the most notable aspects of Dorian Gray is its ability to transcend boundaries of time. Wilde had a particularly complex perspective on beauty and eternity that has remained relevant throughout the ages. In comparison to other works which have tried to explore the same concepts, Dorian Gray has remained a touchstone for exploring beauty in a manner that appeals to all generations.
For instance, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein offers a striking parallel to Dorian Gray in its examination of the consequences of an obsession with eternal beauty. Though the stories have major differences when it comes to plot, the very idea of immortal beauty and its consequences has been echoed in many other books and films, such as The Picture of Dorian Gray by Robert W. Chambers and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.
Moreover, Wilde’s novel stands apart in that he manages to perfectly capture the nuances of beauty in his exploration of Dorian’s life and his interactions with those around him. While Shelley leans more heavily into the tragic elements of her story and how it impacts relationships, Wilde’s writing produces a vivid and wistful look into beauty, one that remains both poetic and thought-provoking.
Interestingly, both authors also use the character of a monster as a foil to Dorian and Victor, respectively. However, while Victor’s creation is born of hatred and a misguided effort to defy nature, Dorian is an independent character who willfully makes bad decisions that are rooted in an appreciation for beauty.
Overall, Wilde’s novel remains unique in its exploration of beauty and its affects. Through Dorian, Wilde challenges readers to think deeply about the importance of beauty and what it means to them. Throughout the novel, Wilde demonstrates beauty in a fascinating and captivating manner, and this exquisite quality is what has kept readers entranced for so long.
Modern Perception of the Novel
It is clear that the allure of Wilde’s Dorian Gray has endured throughout the years and remains a testament to Wilde’s literary achievements. In this day and age, the novel’s message remains largely unchanged, but certain key elements of it have been put under the microscope.
For example, some readers have noted that Wilde’s writing may now be seen as slightly moralistic in nature. Whereas Wilde himself may not have had a definitive moral stance on the topics he explored in the book, many readers believe his intention was to warn readers and viewers of the personal costs associated with beauty and fame. This is especially true when considering the shocking reoccurring climax of the novel, where Dorian ultimately pays the ultimate price for his own destructive indulgences.
Furthermore, many readers have drawn attention to the plight of Wilde’s female characters in the novel. His iconic characters, such as Lady Gwendoline and Lady Agatha, often fall into subservient positions in the story and rarely develop their own personalities beyond Dorian’s enigmatic gaze and his need for absolution. While these characters may not have had a significant purpose in the novel, today’s readers have taken issue with the roles they play and use them to draw attention to issues such as sexism in literature.
Finally, modern discussion of Dorian Gray is often centered around the novel’s exploration of beauty and the effects of age. Dorian’s refusal to admit he is aging is a prominent theme of the book, and many readers have focused on this as a metaphor for society’s increasing obsession with achieving “perfection” through plastic surgery, diets, and a myriad of other methods.
Overall, Wilde’s novel has remained as captivating and thought-provoking as ever, and its lessons are just as relevant today as they were when it was first published. The novel’s exploration of beauty, mortality, and relationships is timeless, and it remains an influential work of literature to this day.
