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Art and Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray
This paper explores the portrayal of art and aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is focused on an innocent young man, Dorian Gray,
and his reputation as he is perverted by hedonistic values and commits several immoral and
deceitful actions. In the late Victoria period, the image was everything. Appearing decent was
the upper-class objective and was a unique quality cherished in art, literature, and physical
appearance. A man's reputation was pegged on his image in society's eyes, a sentiment that was
replicated in this novel. Wilde is a noticeable representative of aestheticism in English literature.
Aestheticism underlined that art could not be subordinated to moral, didactic, social, and
religious objectives because its eventual aim is art itself. The novel's preface argues in favor of
aestheticism, whereas the narrative itself appears to caution the readers on the risks of surviving
one’s life as per these beliefs. Doran was a handsome innocent adolescent before Lord Henry
Wotton persuaded him and started only caring concerning hedonism and beauty, disregarding
these beliefs, truism, and moral discords outcomes that emerged from this way of life.
The homosexual inclinations and Wilde's homosexualism are noticeable in the manly
attraction notion that the narrative fosters. Hence Basil's painting of Dorian's picture is triggered
by his admiration of Dorian’s splendor, same as Lord Henry’s longing of seducing Dorian. The
two men perceive Dorian as a sensual object when talking about Dorian’s half-parted lips and
cheerful gaze in his eyes (Wilde 19). Riquelme argues that such male affair is linked to Wilde’s
Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Date
Art and Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray
This paper explores the portrayal of art and aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is focused on an innocent young man, Dorian Gray,
and his reputation as he is perverted by hedonistic values and commits several immoral and
deceitful actions. In the late Victoria period, the image was everything. Appearing decent was
the upper-class objective and was a unique quality cherished in art, literature, and physical
appearance. A man's reputation was pegged on his image in society's eyes, a sentiment that was
replicated in this novel. Wilde is a noticeable representative of aestheticism in English literature.
Aestheticism underlined that art could not be subordinated to moral, didactic, social, and
religious objectives because its eventual aim is art itself. The novel's preface argues in favor of
aestheticism, whereas the narrative itself appears to caution the readers on the risks of surviving
one’s life as per these beliefs. Doran was a handsome innocent adolescent before Lord Henry
Wotton persuaded him and started only caring concerning hedonism and beauty, disregarding
these beliefs, truism, and moral discords outcomes that emerged from this way of life.
The homosexual inclinations and Wilde's homosexualism are noticeable in the manly
attraction notion that the narrative fosters. Hence Basil's painting of Dorian's picture is triggered
by his admiration of Dorian’s splendor, same as Lord Henry’s longing of seducing Dorian. The
two men perceive Dorian as a sensual object when talking about Dorian’s half-parted lips and
cheerful gaze in his eyes (Wilde 19). Riquelme argues that such male affair is linked to Wilde’s
