What is Aestheticism?

Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that concerns itself with the theory of beauty. The field is broad and incredibly subjective, as it depends on the individual to decide what he or she deems beautiful; many people do not share the same opinions. In relation, Aestheticism was an art movement that mostly occurred in Europe in the 19^th century. It was a doctrine that emphasised the value of beauty and superiority of art in comparison to other facets of life such as morals and politics. Wilde’s writing largely reflected these opinions, as he incorporated a lot of the period’s values into The Picture of Dorian Gray. He presented them through his characters and the novel’s themes, which will be discussed in later posts. To learn more about the characters, check out the Character Profiles page.

Desire, Decay, and Decadence

Wilde wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray with the intention of incorporating numerous levels of hidden literary meanings under his words. Whether it was to use imagery, create morals, or shape symbols, he crafted his work to surround the understanding that he had a reason for individual thoughts and events. Each sentence and action that a person said and did had a purpose, and it was up to the reader (me, in this case) to determine what he was trying to convey. This blog will examine the themes found in the novel that divulge the evils of humanity through the author’s characters and their actions, interactions, and motivations.   

Before We Begin...

Wait! Before you scroll down, what do you think this quote means? I believe it speaks loudly about the values of our society. We constantly pursue material items for the appearance of wealth and do not think of others that have not been blessed with the same opportunities bestowed upon us. It is always about work and we have never enough family time. Like ABBA said, it's Money, Money, Money (If you don't know the song, please click on the link and have your mind blown). Comment below with your opinion!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Wilde began and ended his novel with the concept of art. The portrait that perfectly depicted Dorian’s youthful appearance was given to him in the first chapter and destroyed in the last. Therefore the purpose of art and the imitation of life was a theme that spanned the entire story. Dorian’s struggle with beauty combined with the issue of morality was illustrated through his actions and his relationships with his friends. In a way, he was art. Dorian remained the same, young and unblemished, for years while his picture mirrored his sins. He never let others see his true personality and the one person that did paid for it with his life.

In a like manner Sybil Vane, Dorian’s only love interest, represented art too. She died young and beautiful, forever immortalised in her seventeen year old body. The world would only remember her as the actress on stage that brought to life characters from Shakespearean plays, including Dorian. Dorian only saw her as Art, a living embodiment of what it was to walk in the shoes of characters known to him on a page and brought forth in the theatre. He saw her through the lens of an artist, not a lover. This theme was important because it recognised the influence Aestheticism had on Wilde’s work.

No One Lives Forever

Unlike the picture above, Dorian did not age naturally. He went from a stunning young boy to a haggard old man in the final moments of the book, within the same chapter. Thus, the second theme that can be derived from The Picture of Dorian Gray is the mortality of beauty and youth. Dorian’s descent into debauchery was a result of his belief that he was invincible because he would never age. However, the immoral decay of his soul reflected on his picture, which made him despise it. His desperate attempt to destroy his portrait resulted with a knife in his heart put there by his own hand. Dorian’s need for immortality cost him his mortality in the process.

Similarly, Sybil Vane was a casualty in Dorian’s battle. Her death, rather her suicide, followed Dorian’s harsh words about her terrible performance in the theatre and that she was unworthy of love. Dorian never knew Sybil, whom he had proposed to, and he merely saw her as a spectator in a crowd. To him, Sybil was only beautiful on stage. Although she was a different character every night, her deaths were a fantastical display that tantalised his senses. All in all, Dorian’s affection for her was merely skin deep. He never knew her, thus he did not mourn her.

Stop. Drop. Roll. Time for a Reflection.

Looking at the post above, what do you think this quote means in relation? Comment below and let me know! 

Didn’t Your Parents Tell You to Never Talk to Strangers?

We have all heard the line, “Don’t talk to strangers.” Do we follow this rule? Perhaps. Did Dorian? No, he did not. Thus, the third theme that encompassed the entire novel was influence and corruption. Although Basil was the one that instigated the meeting between his two friends, it was Dorian that blindly threw himself headfirst into a friendship with Henry. He did not heed any of Basil’s warnings about Henry’s manipulative ways, rather he believed himself sensible enough to deny any urges. Henry’s words had a hypnotic power that lured people to listen and adhere to his philosophies. He made Dorian believe beauty should be valued, and vanity became Dorian’s fatal flaw.

Secondly, Sybil Vane was influenced by Dorian and corrupted by having taken her life. Once Henry manipulated Dorian, Dorian began to exert power over others in his life. When Dorian and Sybil first met, their intentions were innocent and playful. However when he began to make more of an appearance in her life, he changed it for the worst. She, like Dorian to Henry, let him in her life which led her to her demise.