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SECTION B: NOVEL THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – Oscar Wilde QUESTION 6: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – ESSAY QUESTION:
HYPOCRACY AND SUPERFICIALITY IN DG:
Wilde draws attention to the superficiality and hypocrisy of Dorian, Lord Henry and to a lesser degree, Basil as well as the society in which they live. Dorian's wish to remain youthful and handsome is a reflection of his society's shallow preoccupation with outward signs of attractiveness and worth. When his wish is fulfilled, Dorian is able to lead a double life: socialite by day and degenerate by night. His portrait is symbolic of this hypocrisy. Dorian remains physically beautiful and unblemished, but the portrait becomes deformed and ugly. Dorian displays a superficial and fleeting concern for the poor; playing a duet with Lady Agatha for the poor is unlikely to make any significant difference in their lives and he is quick to forget his commitment when a more appealing experience is offered to him. Dorian's indifference to Sibyl's and Basil's death is indicative of the superficiality of his feelings; his concern is for himself rather than others. While appearing to avoid ugliness, Dorian paradoxically seeks it out; he is drawn to the dingy underbelly of London's docks, opium dens and brothels. Lord Henry preaches the principles of aestheticism and hedonism and while he surrounds himself with many beautiful objects (most notably Dorian), his pursuit of hedonism is conservative and essentially harmless. Many of Lord Henry's paradoxical statements criticise the restrictive narrowmindedness of the times in which he lives. He refers to 'monstrous laws' that regulate people's lives and prevent them from expressing themselves. However, while he encourages Dorian to ignore such restrictions, there is no evidence that he does so himself. Lord Henry is a married man, but he is dismissive of marriage and discourages Dorian from marrying. Basil is drawn to Dorian's good looks and refuses to believe that he is capable of anything unpleasant or immoral. Sibyl is also enamoured by Dorian’s appearance, referring to him as ‘Prince Charming’; she believes that he will save her from a life of drudgery. Victorian society was supposedly morally conservative, and yet immorality abounds. The novel conveys the idea that a society that is too repressive encourages hypocrisy. Dorian's many vices are excused because of his attractiveness, while Alan Campbell and Adrian Singleton are victims of society's judgement. This superficial response to people is symptomatic of society's double standards and hypocrisy. Dorian and his peers' adherence to the principles of aestheticism leads them to value appearance more than substance ('manners are of more importance than morals'). They are materialistic, surrounding themselves with luxurious/lavish furnishings and beautiful objects. Their lives are shallow; they do little more than attend parties where they indulge in gossip and trivial conversation.
The Picture of Dorian Gray – ESSAY QUESTION
MODEL ANSWER
Dorian's meeting Basil and his painting of Dorian's portrait makes Dorian aware of his beauty. This encourages his narcissism.
Lord Henry exposes Dorian to the theories of Aestheticism and Hedonism, which motivates him to embark on a life of sensory pleasure, and to value art, youth and beauty above everything else. It is this meeting that changes Dorian from the somewhat naive and wilful young man he was to the morally corrupt person he becomes.
Dorian is motivated to wish that the portrait should age instead of him because of his interaction with both men.
When Dorian realises that his wish has been fulfilled, he feels that the portrait absolves him of responsibility for any of his dubious actions. It gives him the licence to indulge in immoral behaviour.
Dorian's meeting of Sibyl has the potential to inspire him to love and goodness. However, he rejects her when she no longer displays artistic competence. Dorian's brief interaction with Sibyl has the opposite effect of keeping him 'straight' when he is persuaded by Lord Henry to view her as a pleasurable passing fancy and her death as a mere artistic expression.
Dorian is aware of the danger posed by Lord Henry's controversial statements, describing them as 'poisonous'. He is however, intrigued and enticed by them. This suggests a conflict within Dorian that his under-developed sense of morality is unable to process.
Dorian's guilt is undermined by his continued interactions with Lord Henry. The yellow book is an extension of Lord Henry's influence on him.
James Vane raises Dorian’s awareness that there are consequences to his actions and makes him realise that he cannot live only via the senses.
Candidates might refer to the negative influence that Dorian becomes on others, which in turn strengthens his resolve to avoid responsibility.
Candidates might argue that Dorian is always going to become a person of questionable integrity. He is initially seen as 'petulant' and 'wilful'. He chooses to live a life of excess and self-indulgence, becoming involved in increasingly sinful behaviour.
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