Chapter 20

Alyssa

Thesis Statement

In Chapter 20 of Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', themes of Aestheticism, Hedonism, the relationship between life and death, as well as illusion and reality are explored. Through the implementation of literary techniques like imagery, symbolism, personification, irony, and metaphor, Wilde details the culmination and consequences of Dorian Gray's actions and thoughts. In doing so, he gracefully outlines the fatal flaws within Dorian and subsequently within Victorian society, insinuating that the death of Victorian society will stem from those internal flaws.

Key Themes

Life & Death Aestheticism

Illusions vs. Reality Hedonism

Quotes

‘It would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free'

This quote utilizes irony and personification to illustrate that despite Dorian Gray's internal conflict and self-reflection, he has not learned from any of his actions is has not changed his fundamental mentality. The irony lies in the fact that the very act of killing is what has brought him to this point, yet he somehow believes that another act of killing will sever its ties to the past and free him of his guilt. Throughout chapter 20, Dorian explores the possibility that his moral decay has reached an unsalvageable point and confronts 'the living death of his soul'. This glimmer of decency, empathy, and self-reflection leads the reader to believe for a moment that perhaps Dorian will redeem himself. However, the above quote indicates that this contemplation came from a place of vanity and selfishness, as he does not truly blame himself.

Wilde utilizes personification to exacerbate this idea, as the past is not something that can be killed, yet it is depicted as such in this quote. The past is also not something blame can be attributed to; typically blame is reserved for human beings. This personification allows the reader to understand that despite what it might seem, Dorian Gray never actually takes any responsibility for his hedonistic ways. He blames it on anything but himself, even if it is a thing that cannot be blamed, much less hold any responsibility or control over his actions. He is so unwilling to confront his mistakes that he tries to kill something that cannot be killed: the past and the consequences of his actions. Dorian ends up killing nothing but himself, another exemplification of irony. In doing so, Dorian feeds himself this illusion that ultimately ends up killing him, because he never acknowledges the reality of his impacts. This choice by Wilde serves as a criticism of Victorian Society, as many people at the time engaged in hedonistic behavior without regard to the consequences, deluding themselves into believing there would be none. Wilde puts forth the idea that this mindset is destined to lead to the annihilation of a person's moral values, in turn, will eventually contribute to the individual's demise.

‘Then he loathed his own beauty, and flinging the mirror on the floor crushed it into silver splinters beneath his heel. '

Imagery, symbolism, and sibilance are utilized in this quote to vividly depict Dorian Gray's rejection of himself and his past actions. It is known throughout the book that Dorian Gray places a heavy emphasis on aesthetics and his beauty, both of which are represented by the mirror in this quote. Mirrors are symbolic of introspection and self-reflection, but also vanity and arrogance. The momentary pause where he looks in the mirror presents the hope that perhaps he truly is contemplating his actions, but his flinging the mirror on the floor and crushing it symbolizes his rejection of the notions of redemption and self-acceptance.

The use of vivid imagery is extremely prevalent in this quote, as the shattered mirror reflects the fragmented state of Dorian's self-perception and the fracturing of his outward beauty, contrasting with the violence and destruction of his actions. This, utilized in tandem with the sibilance of the 'silver shards' juxtaposes this destruction with a sense of musical opulence. It underscores the stark contrast between Dorian's external beauty and the fragmented, shattered state of his internal self.

This shattering of an object that represents beauty also shatters the illusion Dorian holds in his mind that aesthetics are the most important aspect of one's life. This quote comes at a point in the chapter when reality sets in and Dorian begins to contemplate the true consequences of his actions within the context of reality. In shattering the illusion that the Painting protects Dorian from consequences, reality finally begins to weigh on his mind. Being that this novella is a literary criticism of Victorian society, this likely means Oscar Wilde's intentions with this sort of symbolism and imagery were that of both a warning and a hope; that the illusion of beauty prevalent throughout society only serves to hide pain and moral degradation will eventually be shattered so that all parties can come to a realization and salvage their souls.

‘It was the living death of his own soul that troubled him'

The oxymoron utilized within this quote leaves a stark impression on the reader and encapsulates Dorian Gray's psyche and predicament. The words 'living' and 'death' have juxtaposing meanings, and when used together attribute an incorporeal essence to Dorian Gray and his soul. Life and death, whilst related, should not directly impact each other in a way that negates their original purpose. Nothing can be living and dead at the same time. Putting the two together creates a sense of helplessness because no being can control life and death itself, let alone the two interconnected in a manner that goes against the natural order. This juxtaposition also serves as a perfect encapsulation of the vitality that Dorian Gray exhibits whilst he is internally descending into chaos. Consequently, this quote acts as a hallmark for the state of Dorian's inner and outer workings, and when put in context with the rest of the book serves as a summary of his descent into depravity.

This stark use of language was likely also intended to forewarn the Victorian readers at the time, that if they were to embark on a path of extreme hedonism and an overemphasis on aesthetics like Dorian Gray's, they too would have to eventually grapple with the 'living death' of their soul. Because Christian Ideals were extremely prevalent within Victorian society at the time and Christianity has very fixed ideas of life and death, a 'living death' was presumably an off-putting and unsettling notion to many. For an action to not warrant death or hell, but to warrant a 'living death' unforeseen by even God and religion, would have been deeply perturbing to people at the time. Wilde likely intended for this warning to this unsettling in hopes that this would augment how individuals engaged in various behaviors, encouraging a heightened regard for the consequences of their actions.

Artistic Response:

My Movie 12.mp4

‘Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart.’

This ‘stab cake’ is a contemporary allusion to a multitude of the aspects prevalent within A Picture of Dorian Gray. Initially, the cake, whilst having a beautiful and delicious exterior, just as Dorian Gray is beautiful and charming on the outside, tempts one to indulge. This indulgence is comparable to the modern hedonistic tendencies of many when it comes to overeating and indulging in unhealthy foods. However, when one decides to indulge in this sugary, hedonistic goodness and stab into the cake, red bloodlike liquid spurts out. This red liquid parallels Dorian Gray’s ultimate suicide, where because of his selfish greed, he ends up stabbing himself. It is the illusion that he has created for himself, where he is untouchable and above all of his malicious actions, that leads to his ultimate downfall.

In the contemporary world, there are increasingly high rates of diabetes and obesity, with forms of sugar widely available and oftentimes much more cost-effective than whole, healthy foods. While these types of food are good in moderation, it is becoming extremely common for people to overreact to these foods, and their overconsumption has become increasingly normalized. This type of hedonistic behavior impacts an individual's health, yet they continue to do it, much like Dorian Gray continues committing actions he knows may not be good for him or others without regard for the consequences. Oftentimes the health impacts lay dormant for many years, only appearing later in life, the accumulation of hedonistic behavior, much like the painting of Dorian Gray, accumulating all of his sins for years before all of the consequences are ultimately enacted onto him at once and lead to his death. The allure of sugar is found difficult to resist by many, just as various types of self-sabotaging, hedonistic behavior is found difficult to resist by Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton.

Simultaneously, the consumption of these sorts of foods like cake is heavily condemned by diet culture and unrealistic body standards as a result of the modern-day world and the internet’s heavy emphasis on beauty. This emphasis on aestheticsism which is extremely prevalent within day-to-day life, especially with the use of social media, promotes unhealthy, restrictive behavior and leads to mental health and self-image issues. These issues can become incredibly severe and lead to serious conditions like depression and anxiety, a modern-day manifestation of the havoc that Dorian Gray’s overemphasis on aesthetics causes.

Contemporary Connections & Artistic Response:

The overlap of the above points leads to a modern-day manifestation of the dangers posed when the line between illusion and reality blurs. Sugar substitutes and sugar alcohols, such as monk fruit sugar and stevia, have been branded by large corporations and social media as healthy substitutes for sugar that allow individuals to indulge in foods that taste just like the original, without adverse health effects. Individuals believe that they can engage in the same hedonistic behavior without any repercussions, just like Dorian Gray believes he can engage in his hedonistic behavior without repercussions. However the substitutes are hiding a secret; they have been found to cause infertility, cancer, and other serious illnesses. The illusion of a perfect solution that allows individuals to engage in malevolent behavior whilst somehow negating all the consequences, leads Dorian Gray to believe

that the painting will maintain his beauty and prevent repercussions, as well as leading modern-day individuals to believe they will be able to indulge, maintain their beauty, and prevent repercussions. This leads to both Dorian Gray and modern-day individuals further committing these actions to an extreme extent because they believe there are no consequences. This leads the negative repercussions to build up behind the scenes, until again, they rear their ugly head in their full force, meaning that the illusion of this ‘too good to be true’ solution has completely blinded them to reality, and it is only when they are already suffering the consequences and it is too late that they are confronted with the harsh reality that both external forces and themselves have fooled them.

Contemporary Connections: Black Mirror

Illusion vs. Reality

In this episode, Mazey Day is known to be beautiful and influential, much like Dorian Gray is held in high regard for his beauty and charm. Dorian Gray himself is almost like a Victorian-era celebrity, recognized and discussed by all other members of society. In both Wilde's book and this black mirror episode, the celebrity's external image is one of near perfection, but both characters have a hidden supernatural vessel that contains all of their secrets/sinful acts. The illusion of perfection conceals the reality; that the characters are morally degenerate individuals. This oftentimes misleads the characters themselves. This self-righteous delusion adds to their already extensive list of wrongdoings, contributing further to the magnitude of their harmful actions that will eventually rear their ugly head.

The celebrity in this episode engages in illicit substances that cause harm to others when they lead her to get involved in a hit-and-run. However, she continues to engage with these substances without regard for the consequences in the same manner Dorian Gray continues engaging in morally degenerate and hedonistic acts. In both of these stories, these sinful acts culminate in an amalgamation of their sins coming back to haunt them and ultimately killing them. Both of the deaths are suicides, and the character's decisions leading up to their committing suicide stem from the desire to run from the monster they have become. In their final moments, they both share a realization that they have caused so much damage that their souls have become unredeemable, and their decision to take their own lives (whether knowingly or not) is a desperate effort to escape their past.

Background

This Episode of the popular show 'Black Mirror' focuses on the life of a paparazzi photographer, who to chase success, leaves a path of destruction in her wake. The episode begins with her actions causing a male celebrity to commit suicide, then we are introduced to her fellow paparazzo, who all seem to have little or no moral conscience and harass another female celebrity whose sex tape has just been released. The story then turns to a famous starlet who has quit a film production after a car accident involving illicit substances occurs. The starlet, named Mazey Day, is followed by the paparazzi who eventually finds her in a rehab facility, where she discovers that Mazey was bitten by a werewolf as a result of injuring it during the aforementioned car accident. As the full moon emerges, she becomes free and werewolf Mazey attacks everyone but the paparazzo, who takes a photo of Mazey as the starlet shoots herself, overwhelmed by the destruction she has caused and the monster she has become.

Gothic Horror

This episode incorporates supernatural elements of gothic horror that mirror that of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The fact that Mazey Day becomes a werewolf is immediately accepted by the narrative, and this supernatural component serves as a representation of the amalgamation of Mazey Day's past transgressions. It is a symbol that Mazey's soul is beyond reprieve and that even she can no longer control the damage that she inflicts. Dorian Gray’s Portrait which contains all his sins acts as a similar amalgamation that comes back to haunt him.

The incorporation of gothic horror into both these narratives is used to serve the protagonists justice. Doing so through supernatural means allows the creator to demonstrate the full consequence of a character’s actions and criticize those in the real world for engaging in those behaviors without being subject to scrutiny, as it simultaneously distances the world of the narrative from the world of the audience whilst also offering a more gruesome consequence that encourages the audience to reconsider their actions.

Satire

The show Black Mirror itself is a social satire, and most episodes focus on an issue within the modern world that is then exaggerated within the episode. All episodes depict a dystopian narrative, acting as a 'black mirror' to society. The Picture of Dorian Gray is written similarly, set in a parallel universe to the Victorian society in which Oscar Wilde exists. Caricature-like individuals are utilized within their respective narratives to commentate on the real-world society which the narrative mirrors, warning the audience of the moral decay that the author believes is infiltrating their world.

This episode specifically highlights a theme that is not only prevalent throughout the entire series, but also in Wilde's book: Characters operate within their universes without concern for the morality of their actions, initially experiencing convenience or freedom, but ultimately exacerbating problematic personality traits. The excess of anything without any regard for consequences will invariably result in catastrophe.

Another issue that both satires focus on is the issue and stigma associated with homosexuality. The episode begins when the paparazzo takes photographic evidence at a motel of a male celebrity having an affair with a man, and against his will, releases it, leading to the celebrity committing suicide. This strongly mirrors the negative perceptions held on homosexuality in Dorian Gray's world, as well as the social repercussions and potential impacts associated with being homosexual in society at the time the piece was created. Oscar Wilde himself was a public figure whose sexuality warranted his extreme punishment, creating a parallel between Black Mirror, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Wilde's life.

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