Examples Of Aestheticism In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is the life of a wealthy, beautiful young man after selling his heart to the devil. The story begins in the late 19th century London in a luxurious painter’s studio where the readers are introduced to Basil Hallward and his dear friend, Lord Henry Wotton. The two characters, Basil and Lord Henry, discussed the portrait of a golden-haired young man that Basil was painting. Lord Henry Wotton was astonished by the sight of the magnificent painting. He believed that the painting was Basil’s finest work. Lord Henry insists that Basil should show the portrait to the public. Basil refuses to because he states that the painting has to much of him in it. Lord Henry did not understand the meaning of the statement

Aestheticism is the philosophical study of beauty and taste. During the 19th century, the era did not agree with the philosophy. The Aestheticism Movement, a group sought to release art from responsibility of having a moral or a purpose. Oscar Wilde was associated with the group. Wilde published The Picture of Dorian Gray as a response to his essay collection arguing the tenets of Aestheticism, Intentions. In his The Picture of Dorian Gray, he uses the characters as an example of the beliefs of the Aesthetic ideal. Through his character’s experiences, Wilde illustrates the soul of the character, the character’s pursuits of pleasure and the character’s opinion of art. The author’s idea of Aestheticism is art that exists for the meaning of beauty, alone. Art served no purpose in the philosophy because “All art is useless.” (Wilde). Dorian’s reaction to the portrait shows the readers all that matter was he was going to age and the painting was going to stay young and beautiful. The author kind of contradicted the principles of Aestheticism. The readers read his novel and instantly think of the portrait and give it a moral. Lord Henry spoke about the portrait after Basil finished . His expressive words were centered around beauty and how magnificent Dorian’s physical appearance appeared in the portrait. The author contradicts the beliefs of the Aesthetic ideal by Dorian’s reaction of the portrait

Why did these words fill the mind of Oscar Wilde? These words remaining important throughout the novel. Dorian’s innocence dwindles in search of pleasure and remaining young in the process. The author of the novel fabricates characters to illustrate a mind of philosophies. The two philosophies overly known in the novel is Aestheticism and Hedonism. Aestheticism and Hedonism connects these words so beautifully. The portrait of Dorian Gray and the painter are examples of Wilde’s beliefs of art not having a purpose and art exists because of the art’s beauty at the beginning of the novel. The painting receives the soul of Dorian and ironically gives the portrait a purpose of corruption. Dorian Gray is the example of the author’s creation, through Lord Henry’s character, of a new philosophy. The author uses words: youth, beauty, and corruption by connecting the portrait, the painting of the portrait and Dorian with the study of Aestheticism and Hedonism. Oscar Wilde’s important words links to the philosophies he supports during the time of critical