Chapter 6

Alvy Wang

Victorian Hypocrisy

Dorian's Internal Corruption

Analysis

‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ (1890) written by Oscar Wilde demonstrates the superficial nature of the society through its pervasive presence in the Victorian society and the employment of different literary devices. Such as ethereal imagery, foreshadowing, and the use of satirical statements, indirectly revealing the corrupting influence of societal expectations and the dangers of only valuing external appearance over intrinsic qualities, which eventually leads to Dorian’s tragic demise.

“She had all the delicate grace of that Tangra figurine* that you have in your studio, Basil. Her hair clustered round her face like dark leaves round a pale rose.”(Wilde 66)

In chapter 6, Oscar Wilde uses metaphor to portray Dorian’s feelings towards Sibyl. This was shown when Dorian describes Sibyl as such a celestial being to his friend Basil, he said: “She had all the delicate grace of that Tangra figurine* that you have in your studio, Basil. Her hair clustered round her face like dark leaves round a pale rose.” This quote uses metaphor and indirect characterization by comparing her hair to “dark leaves round a pale rose.” Illustrating Sibyl’s beauty in Dorian's perspective and his infatuation with her. Through this quote, Oscar Wilde hints at Dorian Gray’s superficial nature when he refers to Sibyl as a "pale rose", the reader conjures up an image of purity and delicacy whereas the mention of "dark leaves" that comes right after that creates a stark contrast which gives off the impression of something cryptic, hidden within the shadows. By highlighting the difference of morals between Sibyl and Dorian, the reader can infer that whilst Sibyl truly is an innocent character who hasn’t committed any sins, Dorian, with his misleading appearance, is actually tainted within. In addition to this, one would think since the couple both have attractiveness as a common trait, they would both be described using the language of flowers which symbolizes Dorian as it shows an aspect of beauty and aestheticism. Wilde directly thwarts this expectation by describing Dorian as something that pales in terms of beauty compared to Sibyl, subtly hinting at the internal differences between the two, namely levels of morality. On the other hand, Dorian’s comparison of Sibyl to the “Tangra figurine”, a sculpture and a piece of artwork also reflects how Dorian’s love towards Sybil isn't stemmed from true feelings, but he sees her as a doll who he can see and admire all day instead of a human being or his partner. Once again emphasizing his shallow and naive mindset.

“I am changed, and the mere touch of Sibyl Vane’s hand makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories.” (Wilde 67)

Wilde uses ethereal imagery and juxtaposing terms to describe Dorian’s idolization towards Sybil as an almost godlike figure. This is shown when he said: “I am changed, and the mere touch of Sibyl Vane’s hand makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories.” This quote uses ethereal imagery by portraying a transformative power when referring to “mere touch of Sibyl Vane's hand”. Which is comparing Sibyl to a ‘God’ that is not equal to him and can further enhance his own youthful appearance. This not only suggests their unbalanced relationship and how Dorian is only looking up to her, but also emphasizes on how he’s so obsessed with the idea of aestheticism and appreciating outward beauty that he’s lost sense of what true beauty is. Which is shown in the second half of the quote “wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories.” Wilde deliberately put the contrasting terms together which indirectly reflected on his character as it suggests something with contradictory qualities that may look fascinating and delightful on the outside, but dangerous and wrong on the inside. By using these juxtaposing terms, it shows that Dorian's obsession with aestheticism and his admiration of Sibyl's beauty have blinded him to the true essence of inner beauty. Criticizing the dangers of valuing external appearances above all else which had led to his corrupting inner soul even though his beauty remains.

“His eyes darkened, and the crowded, flaring streets became blurred to his eyes. When the cab drew up at the theater, it seemed to him that he had grown years older.” (Wilde 69)

“Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always the noblest motives.”(Wilde 64)

This not only shows Dorian’s distorted values, but also highlights the impact of societal expectations on his character. This is shown through foreshadowing at the end of the chapter when the author wrote: “His eyes darkened, and the crowded, flaring streets became blurred to his eyes. When the cab drew up at the theater, it seemed to him that he had grown years older.” This quote foreshadows the bad performance of Sibyl in the later chapter because she is so in love with Dorian that she could not imagine herself acting as Juliet anymore. This made Dorian think that “he has grown years older” due to the huge difference between his elevated expectation towards the woman he always admired and the reality. Conveying the crumbling of his idealized perception of Sibyl and their relationship.

Furthermore, some may think that Wilde’s description of Dorian’s appearance with his “eyes darkened” and blurred eyes also created a stark contrast of his usual image which he was supposed to be beautiful and attractive. A representation of Dorian's inner soul starting to rot and fall apart due to his shallow values related to the aesthetic standards of Victorian society which have placed a burden on his once pure soul. This was mentioned earlier in the chapter when the author wrote: “Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always the noblest motives.” Wilde uses satirical statements in a humorous tone by deliberately putting two contradicting words “stupid” and “noblest” together. Which challenges the hypocrisy of the Victorian societal norms, because it upholds the “noblest motives” while engaging in selfish behaviors. Due to this, Dorian is now morphed into a figure that only appreciates outward traits and ignores all intrinsic details. These external forces not only made an impact on Dorian Gray himself but is also a macroscale of the entire Victorian society. Criticizing the society's obsession with appearances as they prioritize social expectations over genuine virtues and sins.

Artistic Connection

Skull - Duality of Dorian Gray
This illustrates the duality within dorian gray as it demonstrates the dark side of him that is behind his youthful appearance. This is shown with a skull that is drawn at the back which shows a contrast between his external looks and the inherent darkness that lies beneath Dorian Gray's handsomeness. In terms of the use of colors, I deliberately colored everything in black and white except for the flowers and Dorian himself. This is to show his dying soul at the back in contrast to his remaining youthful appearance. Which is a visual representation of the central theme “Aestheticism” and “corruption of dorian gray”. Because while Dorian presents himself as a charming individual, the skull reveals the hidden truth of his corrupt and immoral choices, capturing the true state of his soul.
Melting stains - Corruption of Dorian’s soul
The melting stains at the bottom and back of the drawing shows the rotting truth behind his soul. This is a symbolism of the gradual erosion of his moral character that was resulted from his disregard for ethical boundaries and his naive mindset that the portrait would bear the shame of all his hedonistic pleasures. Furthermore, I only drew the head of Dorian while his body starts to melt away. This is also a representation of the fragmentation of his moral self as well as the disconnect between his external appearance and internal corruption. Which has eventually led to his tragic downfall.

Rose + Lily - Language of flowers
In this drawing, I’ve added some elements of flowers including rose and lily as it is a crucial aspect of the entire novel. This is because these flowers symbolize beauty, love, and purity which indicates the external beauty of Dorian and his love with Sibyl. Enhancing the visual representation of these contrasting themes when it is incorporated with the skull and the dark side of Dorian. This not only contrasts Dorian’s youthful appearance with the dark aspects of his soul, but considering the symbolism aspect of love, Dorian’s seemingly unconditional love for Sibyl also contrasts with his admiration to her instead of true love.

Contemporary Connection

Palace of the Winds - Hawa Mahal (Jaipur)

A famous architecture in India, Jaipur. That looks spectacular from the outside but empty at the back. Which symbolizes Dorian Gray as it presents himself to the world as an attractive individual. However, just as the back of the Palace of the Winds is empty, it is also a representation of Dorian's inner self that is devoided of true substance and morality. The contrast between the impressive exterior and empty interior of the architecture reflects his obsession of charm while concealing the hollowness and lack of moral depth within him. Highlighting Dorian's internal corruption which is affected by the Victorian society.

AI Face Swapper

AI face swapping is a technology that enables the transfer of faces between individuals in images or videos. This could be seen as another parallel to the character of Dorian Gray. Just as Dorian Gray conceals his true dark self behind an attractive appearance and artwork. AI face swapper allows individuals to mask their own identities and assume the likeness of others. Portraying the theme of Illusion Vs Reality which shows how Oscar Wilde's critique of societal values still remains relevant because not only is a portrayal of Dorian Gray himself and a macroscope of the Victorian society in the 1890s that prioritizes outward beauty over inner substance. But AI face swapping also reflects a phenomenon that extends beyond the novel as society today still grapples with surface-level aesthetics over genuine depth.

Conclusion

Finally, I would like to emphasize that Dorian in this narrative is not merely the protagonist but also a reflection of the countless individuals influenced by the corrupt society of that time. Similarly, Lord Henry in the story acts as an embodiment of societal beliefs and ideologies. So we can see that Dorian's transformation is rather a consequence of the entire society's impact on his once innocent soul instead of only Lord Henry himself. The author deliberatley uses Dorian's story to illuminate broader societal issues, portraying the rotting nature of the Victorian era through the perspective of a small character. Just like the example of AI face swapping, such phenomena still exist in today's society. Therefore, we come to realize that true happiness does not rely on one's external appearance, instead, it is only when an individual achieves harmony within their own self.

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