The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

In the extract from The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde presents the character Dorian Gray as knowing nothing about love, shown to the reader from the way he is self-centred, ignorant and assumptious about his relationship with Sibyl Vane.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, a novel laced with sin, treachery, and raging battles of inner conflict, is Oscar Wilde’s sole novel. Considered immoral and scandalous upon publication, the book centers around a young man named Dorian Gray, who does not age or reflect the darkness of his heart outwardly, and instead a portrait of him bears the damage his destructive life wreaks on his soul. However, the meaning of the story extends past the simple fact that Dorian lives a life of immorality—he walks the path that takes him there with his two friends, Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotten. The two attempt to guide and influence Dorian throughout the novel in their own ways, and are a vital piece of Dorian’s tale. Basil and Henry act as character foils as well as a symbolic angel and devil for Dorian Gray’s character, and also contribute themes of choosing one’s own fate.

In the book, The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, there is a character named Lord Henry Wotton. He is the story's antagonist and whom critics often think most resembles Oscar Wilde. Wilde remarks "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks of me: Dorian what I would like to be-in other ages perhaps." Within the preface of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, there lie the lines "Those who go beneath the symbol do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their own peril." From Wilde's statement, we can assume that there is a part of Wilde represented in each of the main characters, but how they represent him is up for the reader to decide.

The repression of homicidal desires, as shown by Dr.Jekyll, forges a plight for himself when he creates a distinctive criminal persona, such as Mr.Hyde. As Hyde’s immoral deeds

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde does warn about the dangers of repression. Due to Dr. Jekyll repressing his inner most desires, he finally finds a way to release them that ends in his untimely death. The Victorian conventions of that time were very conservative while they held a strict moral and class code. It was unseemly that one did not hold themselves in the most dignified ways, especially for one in the higher class like Dr. Jekyll. This is why he spent his life’s work on finding a way to live a double life, so he could keep the advantages that he earned by being an upright citizen of his class. He spent his entire life earning those privileges, but the desire to free himself from his restraint proved unbearable. One can really see this when Jekyll

In order to make his point more believable, it is important that Jekyll includes a back story explaining exactly why he created Hyde to begin with. Jekyll is an intelligent, well-respected man in his community with large sums of money, yet he turns himself into Hyde, who is hated by nearly everyone upon first-glance. While this is a confusing state of events, Jekyll gives a historical precedent to facilitate his explanation. In the opening of his letter, Jekyll gives an in-depth description of the pressures he faced being born “to a large fortune, endowed besides with excellent parts, inclined by nature to industry, fond of the respect of the wise and good among my fellow men, and thus, as might have been supposed.” (47). Being born into wealth and respect gave Jekyll no chance to escape societal pressures, which were exceptionally high during the Victorian Era. Jekyll continues by asserting that he “found it hard to reconcile with [his] imperious desire to carry [his] head high and wear a more than commonly grave countenance before the public. Hence it came about that [he] concealed [his] pleasures.” (48). Jekyll’s conflict between societies expectations and what he really wants to do leads him to find a solution: Hyde. When Jekyll first turns into Hyde, he is in awe because he

Dr. Jekyll’s obsession with appearance causes him to become addicted to the character Hyde, which the text reveals in the last chapter of the book. For instance, growing up in the Victorian era as a Christian, the laws shunned down upon all activities considered pleasurable. Thus wanting the members of society to be “in favor of self-disciplined moral earnest” (Stevenson 48). Although Dr. Jekyll abides by the strict rules of the Victorian culture, it still sparks a “certain impatient gaiety of disposition” in him, furthering Dr. Jekyll to complete his pleasurable activities in solitude, out of fear of losing his reputation:” I found it hard to reconcile with my imperious desire to carry my head high and wear a more commonly grave countenance before the public” (Stevenson 47-48). As a result of Dr. Jekyll’s secrecy, he begins to create a draught allowing him to split personalities or create an alter ego, Mr. Hyde. When Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde, he has a sense of freedom to act as he pleases and escape the consequences: “I was the first that ever did so

The strict morals of the Victorian Era ruled what a person could or couldn’t do. Dr. Jekyll wanted to be evil but didn’t want to ruin his perfect reputation. With that Jekyll “learned to recognize the primitive duality of man,” and created Hyde (Stevenson 57). If it wasn’t for the Victorian Era’s austere morals Jekyll never would have felt the pressure to be good, and transform into Hyde. Jekyll went to great lengths to keep his facade. Everyone had to follow unspoken rules to protect their reputation.

The author uses Dr Jekyll as an example to show that for a society to strive and be successful they must show conformity and value the morals and rules that are necessary to live in their society. Conformity was very important during the victorian era. Conformity is to basically fit in and be normal. Dr Jekyll shows conformity by being a respectable doctor and being known throughout the community as being a normal person. Dr Jekyll throws this away when he becomes Mr Hyde because he does not conform with the rules of the Victorian era. He also does not choose to get help for his addiction. One can assume that he does not want to get the help for his addiction because he feels like he can manage his addiction while keeping his morals and virtues without having them disturbed. When he is Dr Henry Jekyll, he has morals and

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are extremely complicated and snowball leading to more questions. Ultimately these questions and answers are the basis for one of the most compelling stories questioning science and morality within human beings. Jekyll’s ambition was to separate good from evil within a human being, but the consequences were too much to handle, both on a personal as well as a social level. It also casts a mirror upon Victorian society, showing its fears and hopes surrounding the topics presented by Stevenson in his novella. Surprisingly this story does give an accurate depiction of society during that time and the duality most men felt. It was a great strain to project a good image in public, yet privately have dark desires that were not considered morally acceptable in open society. This is where Victorian society must either accept its flaws or hide them and fear exposure as flawed

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde evokes an emotional and sympathetic response for the inner battles Dr. Jekyll endures when he is bombarded by the invasive and disturbing thoughts of his alternate personality, Mr. Hyde because it reminds the reader of the overwhelming feelings all human undergo in some point or time in their life, were confusion, unhappiness, and fear of unacceptable creates a vortex of for psychological anguish. • Find a passage from the text to highlight their differences Descriptions of both Jekyll and Hyde A major theme of this novella is the danger of introspection and social awareness, which can be understood through an analysis of Freud’s structural model of the human psyche, pertaining specifically/exclusively to the Id, Ego, and Superego. Irrefutably, Hyde is guilty of evil acts, however one of his trademarks throughout the novella is his aggression and indifference to the expectations and limitations of society. Therefore, this novel, especially considering the historical context, that being during the Victorian era can reflect of the overbearing social expectation to behave properly in society and that specifically in Victorian society citizens were expected to repress these arguably

Throughout his life Oscar Wilde had many strong influences exerted upon him. During his early childhood his mother influenced him and into college some of his professors and certain philosophers left a substantial impression upon him. Into adulthood these influences leaked out in his writing. These influences gave him ample ideas for writing The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde's study of the Hellenistic ideals of Epicurus, his coddled lifestyle as a child and his devotion to the movement of Aesthetics and Moral Ambiguity have produced one of the most astounding works of horror fiction.

Being a respected doctor, Jekyll is tied of chains by his social status in the society, for instance if a child is restricted to do something, by his parents. He will eventually find a secretive way to fulfill his needs. In the same manner Jekyll finds Hyde as a solution to satisfy his simple need like drinking. “His every act and thought centered on self; drinking pleasure with bestial avidity from any degree of torture to another” ().As the quote demonstrates Hyde enjoys drinking, which he cannot do as Dr. Jekyll, living in an oppressed Victorian society. The small and harmful temptation like drinking leads to more serious offences. As this boosts, Jekyll’s confidence, he ends up indulging into violent acts, “With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows” (). The simile in this quote delineates Jekyll’s unexpressed desire that erupts through Hyde. His small desires manifests into bigger crimes. Stevenson uses this theory to showcase temptation the evil cause of problems in mankind.

Throughout the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde tells a tale about a young man named Dorian whose entire life changes after he meets Basil Hallward, who paints a portrait of Gray that ultimately leads to Gray’s demise. At the same time, Dorian also meets Lord Henry, who eventually plays a bad influence over Dorian. The portrait shows the man Dorian has become

In Oscar Wilde’s Popular nineteenth century novel, the Picture of Dorian Gray demonstrates the importance of the aesthetic movement in Victorian England. This suggests youth and physical attractiveness is emphasized and are valuable additions to society. Therefore, what matters to Dorian, is not the internal goodness an individual possesses but the appearance they present. Consequently, Dorian is able to forget the violent acts he commits as long as he appears beautiful on the outside. Since external beauty is valued, Wilde argues that people tend to lose their individualism and conform to society’s expectations. With this in mind, Dorian gray grows more corrupt, self-centered as he focuses more on the pleasure for himself as he becomes more vulnerable to his own misgivings. He loses his individualism, because he is conforming to society’s form of asethics. I agree with Wilde’s arguement about Dorian Gray, that individuals lose their sense of idenity when conforming to society’s influence, such as in today’s beauty standards portrayed on social media, racism described through facism, and LGBTQ rights violated by intolerant individuals. (too wordy)