Chapter 19

The responsibility of artistic influence - Allen

Thesis: In chapter 19 of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde highlights the dangers of adopting aestheticism through Lord Wotton's lack of responsibility for his damaging influence over Dorian.

The Victorian era was a time of repressed actions and formality governed by strict Christian religion, yet there arose forms of thought that were certainly contradictory and challenging. Two movements that emerged were aestheticism and hedonism. Aestheticism values art simply as art that should be admired without deeper influence. And hedonism values a lifestyle based on all forms of pleasures. These philosophies combined paint a lifestyle that was advocated for by Lord Henry Wotton. These two lifestyles serve as the two underlying themes in Chapter 19 which are that firstly, art exists without moral influence and that secondly leads to the idea that pleasure can be pursued without moral consequences.

“ Yet you poisoned me with a book once . I should not forgive that . Harry , promise me that you will never lend that book to any one. It does harm . ”

"As for being poisoned by a book , there is no such thing as that . Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame . That is all . But we won’t discuss literature."

This exchange between Dorian and Lord Henry takes place in Chapter Nineteen, as Dorian, flayed by his conscience, pledges to live a reformed life. Reflecting on the course of his past twenty years, he confronts Lord Henry, whom he believes is responsible for leading him astray. The major corrupting influence on Dorian is "the yellow book" which Lord Henry sent over to amuse him after the suicide of his first love. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, the "yellow book" is understood by critics to be À rebours by Joris-Karl Huysmans, a representative work of Parisian decadence that heavily influenced British aesthetes like Beardsley. Such books in Paris were wrapped in yellow paper to alert the reader to their potentially sexual content. Dorian criticizes the yellow book that, years before, had such a profound influence over him, claiming that this book did him great harm. This accusation is alien to Wilde’s philosophy of aestheticism, which holds that art cannot be either moral or immoral. Lord Henry says as much, refusing to believe that a book could have such power. While there is something seductive in his observation that “the world calls immoral . . . books that show the world its own shame,” Lord Henry’s words here are less convincing than other statements to the same effect that he makes earlier in the novel. In the latter stages of the novel, we know of Dorian’s downfall, and we see the dire consequences of his immorality. At this point, Lord Henry’s seem hopelessly naïve, the victim of a

"All crime is vulgar , just as all vulgarity is crime . Crime belongs exclusively to the lower orders . I don’t blame them in the smallest degree . I should fancy that crime was to them what art is to us , simply a method of procuring extraordinary sensations .”

Wilde's exploration of aestheticism and crime raises questions about the consequences of pursuing pleasure and beauty without regard for moral boundaries. It challenges the notion that aesthetic pursuits are inherently noble or exempt from ethical considerations. The novel suggests that the unrestrained pursuit of pleasure and the rejection of moral constraints can lead to moral degradation and ultimately self-destruction.

While aestheticism itself does not advocate for criminal behavior, the novel highlights the dangers of taking aestheticism to an extreme, where one becomes detached from moral responsibility and succumbs to immoral or criminal actions in the pursuit of personal gratification.

The use of the chiasmus reflects Lord Henry's perspective in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and his cynical views on crime and vulgarity. Lord Henry suggests that all crime is vulgar, implying that it lacks refinement or sophistication. Similarly, he equates all vulgarity with crime, blurring the line between social impropriety and actual criminal acts.

Lord Henry goes on to state that crime belongs exclusively to the lower social classes, suggesting that crime is different through social classes. However, he also expresses a lack of blame towards those who commit crimes, indicating that he sees their actions as a result of their circumstances rather than personal moral failing.

Lord Henry then compares crime for the lower classes and art for the upper classes, suggesting that both are means of seeking extraordinary sensations. Here, he implies that individuals from different social class may have different methods for seeking stimulation or gratification. Lord Henry's comparison between crime and art may be seen as provocative, highlighting his unconventional and controversial views on morality and social norms.

It's important to note that Lord Henry's perspectives in the novel are often intended to be thought-provoking and challenge conventional beliefs. His statements should be understood within the context of the character and the philosophical themes explored in the book. This assessment implies that Dorian is two men, a refined aesthete and a coarse criminal.

“ Oh ! anything becomes a pleasure if one does it too often , ” cried Lord Henry , laughing . “ That is one of the most important secrets of life . I should fancy , however , that murder is always a mistake . One should never do any thing that one cannot talk about after dinner ."

Lord Henry's statement reflects his hedonistic and amoral worldview. He finds pleasure in indulging in various experiences, but he believes that murder is a mistake because it is an extreme act that cannot be easily discussed or justified in polite society. Lord Henry's emphasis on the ability to discuss one's actions after dinner highlights his belief in maintaining a facade of respectability and conforming to societal norms, even though he often disregards moral boundaries in his own life. This statement further illustrates Lord Henry's detached and cynical perspective on life, where pleasure and personal gratification take priority over moral considerations.

Contemporary Connections

The film "Der Ewige Jude" (The eternal Jew) serves as an example of how art is far from being a sterile form of expression; it can be a potent tool that profoundly influences people's beliefs and actions. Produced in 1940 as anti-Semitic propaganda during the Nazi era in Germany, the film was a deliberate attempt to promote anti-Semitism and dehumanize Jewish individuals. Through distorted and offensive stereotypes (Portaying Jews as rats), it aimed to fuel hatred and discrimination, playing a role in spreading anti-Semitic sentiment and supporting the Nazi regime's persecution of Jewish people during World War II.

"Der Ewige Jude utilizes visual and emotional storytelling, the film was designed to evoke strong and hateful emotions towards Jewish individuals, effectively shaping the thoughts and beliefs of those who viewed it. Furthermore, art has the power to normalize and facilitate the acceptance of specific ideas and beliefs. In this context, the normalization of anti-Semitic views through the film contributed to the acceptance of such hateful ideology within the society of that time. This drove the hate towards jews during WW2 from germans and facilitated the holocaust. This piece of art has influenced and

Another Contemporary Connection that we can make is from GTA 5 (Grand Theft Auto 5). Continous exposure to violent content in GTA 5 may desensitize individuals to real-life acts of violence. This can lead to individuals imitating aggressive actions depicted in the game, blurring the lines between virtual and real-life conduct.

GTA 5 is deeply embedded in culture, and its portrayal of criminal activity, theft, violence, and illegal activities may inadvertently normalize or glorify aspects of criminal behavior, potentially impacting susceptible individuals' perceptions and behaviors. The game's portrayal of criminal activities can cause individuals, primarily young and impressionable audiences, to believe that the game's depictions of criminal behavior as acceptable or even desirable, thus influencing their real-world conduct.

These contemporary connections prove that art is not sterile and does have influences on others, highlighting the irresponsibility of Lord Henry Wotton on his influence of Dorian Gray. Der Ewige Jude enabled the Holocaust through the brainwashing of German soldiers and citizens, while Grand Theft Auto 5's portrayal of violence and crime influenced younger generations to have more aggressive tendencies and changed their general lifestyle. Similarly, Lord Henry Wotton's presentation of "the yellow book" (A Rebours) to Dorian Gray influences him to embrace Hedonism into his lifestyle, symbolising the profound damaging influence of art on individuals, rejecting Lord Henry's claim of art being "sterile" and further showcasing his detatched view of the world around him.

Artistic response (Picture):

This is the picture of how A Rebours, the book that Lord Henry gave to Dorian Gray influenced him into hedonism and aestheticism. The abstract art and structures in the picture communicate the nature of aestheticism, art for arts sake, connoting how art is not sterile and can affect people. This links back to the irresponsibility of Lord Henry Wotton and his influence over Dorian Gray, encapsulating the warning that Oscar Wilde makes against Hedonism.

Conclusion:

In Chapter 19 of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry Wotton denies any responsibility he has for Basil Hallward's murder, nonchalantly dismissing his terrible influence on Dorian Gray, highlighting Oscar Wilde's warning of the dangers of excessive Hedonism and Aestheticism.

In considering the responsibility of artists in shaping their influence on people who engage with their art, we must reflect on how artists must honestly and accurately portray the complexities of the society we live in. Artists should have to into account ethical considerations which involves thinking about the potential harm or offence their art may cause and avoiding the promotion of violence, discrimination, or hate.

Art has the potential to inspire and motivate positive change. Artists can use their influence to promote social progress, challenge injustice, and advocate for marginalized voices. Oscar Wilde in Chapter 19 of the Picture of Dorian Gray underscores the responsibility of art, through the flippant remarks of Lord Henry Wotton. In doing so, readers can reflect on the dangers of aestheticism and hedonism and the unfettered moral corruption and depravity that it can bring.

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