“The picture of Dorian Gray” Oscar Wilde- Born on 16th of October in 1854, Oscar Wilde would become one of Londons most famous playwrights of his time. Wilde is remembered by much of his work, including his epigrams, which were brief statements, and his most prominent novel The picture of Dorian Gray, and the conditions of his imprisonment. Wilde is known for being one of the best-personalities of his time because of his “glittering conversations”, flamboyant dresses, and his lip biting wit. While Wilde was in his prime for success, during the performance of The Importance of Being Earnest he had victimized the Marquess of Queensberry for slander. Wilde was born at his family’s house on 21 Westland Row, Dublin. Wilde was born into a Anglo-Irish family, as he would blossom Wilde became fluent in French and German. Wilde studied at the Trinity College in Dublin, while studying Wilde obtained a distinct interest in Greek literature. Concluding his study of literature for 9 years he was eventually accepted to the Magdalen College in Oxford in 1878. After graduating Wilde moved to Paris where he would meet a woman named Constance Lloyd, who would become his wife on May 24th, 1884. With years to come Wilde would eventually be in his prime for playwriting until during one of his performances he slandered the Marquess of Queensberry’s name causing him to be imprisoned. Wilde became ill in prison but managed to achieve exile. Three years later on November 30th, 1900 Wilde passed away from cerebral meningitis. Victorian Era- The Victorian Era was a time in British history when Queen Victoria was Queen. This was from her reign on June 20, 1837 till her death on January 22, 1901. During this time Britain was in a state of peace, stabil... ... middle of paper ... ... should live in the moment and enjoy the day because tomorrow is uncertain. The essence of Carpe Diem is not to ignore the future, but rather not to trust that things will be put into place for you and to take action for what is today. Hedonism- Hedonism is an ideology that follows the belief that pleasure is the only essential value in life. People who follow Hedonism are labeled as Hedonist, the Hedonist attempt to reach the maximum amount of pleasure with little pain in compensation. The earliest form of Hedonism derives from the Sumerian Civilization in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Siduri who was a wise female divinity that reigned supreme in fermentation said “Fill your belly. Day and night make merry. Let days be full of joy. Dance and make music day and night […] These things alone are the concern of men”. Hedonism appears in many teachings throughout history.”
3. Arno, The. "Oscar Wilde - Biography and Works. Search Texts, Read Online. Discuss.." The Literature Network: Online classic literature, poems, and quotes. Essays & Summaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2012. .
Wilde, Oscar, and Joseph Bristow. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. Print.
Oscar (Fingal O'Flahertie Wills) Wilde was a witty, eccentric, and “dandy” man who was born in Dublin on October 16, 1954. The names Oscar and Fingal originate from Irish folklore. His main calling in life was to diverge from the strict Victorian tradition and society. Wilde was raised in a busy upper class Victorian household where artists, writers, and professionals often visited. His father, Sir William Wilde, was a distinguished surgeon who was Queen Victoria’s oculist and was later knighted for founding a hospital. Wilde’s mother, Jane Francesca Elgee, was a famous a writer and novelist advocating Irish independence.
In society, there has constantly been the question as to whether people can change or not. Author Oscar Wilde proves in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, that one can. The question he poses to his readers is “What kind of transformation is shown by the protagonist Dorian Gray: good or bad?” It is possible to think that Dorian Gray has become a better person, not for others, but for himself since he lives in the pursuit of pleasure and always achieves it. However, as it is demonstrated by the portrait, the damnation of the lives of others can provoke damage to one’s conscience and soul. Dorian’s soul is ruined gradually by his hedonistic adventures, eventually failing to redeem his actions, but not before he leaves a devastating path of destruction and experiences self-inflicted destruction.
There is a mindset that when you are in love, you are in love with everything about that certain individual. This ranges from their physical appearance to qualities such as personality and humor. Oscar Wilde, one of the most beloved and scrutinized authors in history, toys with the idea that we are often in love for the wrong reasons, which is usually a result of more than one component of love lacking. By inserting various situations which include Basil’s fascination with Dorian and the sparks that first flew when Dorian came across Sibyl Vane, Wilde emphasizes the emptiness that may lie behind ones attraction toward another. The Picture of Dorian Gray is the canvas with which Oscar Wilde communicates a powerful message to the reader in
The literature that occurred during the Victorian era was another main factor during that time. In this period of time, Gothic literature had become very popular and the novel was seen to be a gothic novel (“The Picture of Dorian Gray; A mirror of the Victorian era, era of Hypocrisy” 1). Gothic literature is portrayed as showing the darkest features in human nature that reveals his or her dark passions, like many of the characters features in the novel (“The Picture of Dorian Gray; A mirror of the Victorian era, era of Hypocrisy” 1). Furthermore, many of the notable gentleman became obsessed with their reputation (“The Picture of Dorian Gray; A mirror of the Victorian era, era of Hypocrisy” 1). For example, they began to hide their
The French born author, Anais Nin once wrote, “We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative” ("Think Exist Quotations"). Anais is expounding upon the inconsistency all people have in aspects of their personalities. Some days a person may be hailed as a saint for their actions, while other days they seem absolutely evil. In most literature, characters are defined as good or evil based on their revealed thoughts and actions. On occasion an anomaly may be found, where a character is more ambiguous. Dorian Gray’s Actions throughout The Picture of Dorian Gray paralyzes the readers’ ability to condemn Dorian as purely good or purely evil, causing them to be more sympathetic than usual.
The interesting life of Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde began on October 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland. By the end of his college education, Wilde had become one of the most famous aesthetes; it was this recognition which drew attention to his affected paradoxes and his witty sayings. This fame led to his 1882 lecture tour of America. In 1885 Wilde began work as a book reviewer for the Pall Mall Gazette and a critic for the Dramatic Reviewer. Two years later, he was appointed as the editor of the Lady's World Magazine. The year 1888 marked his first major published work The Happy Prince and Other Stories, which was a charming collection of children's stories. Three years later Wilde made a name for him self by publishing four books in 1891: A House of Pomegranates, Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, Intentions, and The Picture of Dorian Gray -- the latter earning him his greatest fame to date" ("Biograp...
Oscar was born on October 16th 1854 under the birthname Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin, Ireland. Oscar’s parents were an important influence on him. His mother, Jane Wilde, was a nationalist Irish poet who went by the pen name Speranza. Both his mother and his father, Sir William Wilde, were educated people. His father was an ear and eye doctor, who had many intellectual interests. Oscar was the youngest of three children; he and his older brother were encouraged to listen party dialogue in the salon of their home. The Wilde children were exposed to different languages through their French bonne and German governess. At age nine, Oscar’s parents sent him to Portora Royal Boarding School. He then attended Trinity College in Dublin with a royal scholarship.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray; For Love of the King. London: Routledge/Thoemmes Press, 1993.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Michael Patrick Gillespie, Editor. Norton Critical Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007.
Pearson, Hesketh. Oscar Wilde: His Life and Wit. 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1946.
Oscar Wilde was born in 1854 and led a normal childhood. After high school, Wilde attended Oxford College and received a B.A. in 1878. During this time, he wrote Vera and The Importance of Being Earnest. In addition, "for two years Wilde had dressed in outlandish outfits, courted famous people and built his public image" (Stayley 317). Doing so earned Wilde a job with Rich...
Woodcock, George. The Paradox of Oscar Wilde. London-New York: T.V. Boardman and Co., Ltd., 1950.
Oscar Wilde was born in October 16, 1854, in the mid era of the Victorian period—which was when Queen Victoria ruled. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901.While she ruined Britain, the nation rise than never before, and no one thought that she was capable of doing that. “The Victorian era was both good and bad due to the rise and fall of the empires and many pointless wars were fought. During that time, culture and technology improved greatly” (Anne Shepherd, “Overview of the Victorian Era”). During this time period of English, England was facing countless major changes, in the way people lived and thought during this era. Today, Victorian society is mostly known as practicing strict religious or moral behavior, authoritarian, preoccupied with the way they look and being respectable. They were extremely harsh in discipline and order at all times. Determination became a usual Victorian quality, and was part of Victorian lifestyle such as religion, literature and human behavior. However, Victorian has its perks, for example they were biased, contradictory, pretense, they cared a lot of about what economic or social rank a person is, and people were not allowed to express their sexuality. Oscar Wilde was seen as an icon of the Victorian age. In his plays and writings, he uses wit, intelligence and humor. Because of his sexuality he suffered substantially the humiliation and embarrassment of imprisonment. He was married and had an affair with a man, which back then was an act of vulgarity and grossness. But, that was not what Oscar Wilde was only known for; he is remembered for criticizing the social life of the Victorian era, his wit and his amazing skills of writing. Oscar Wilde poem “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” typifies the Vi...