Realization of the imitation

Time and time again our stories feature a twist where it turns out the image that the characters experience is either blatantly false, or has been distorted, that their perceptions turned out to be an imitation of something that was never real; whether it be the realization that the Matrix is a computer simulation, that Madeline from Vertigo never existed, or that Dorian Gray’s face masks his corrupt personality. In these stories the revelation of the false image provides the characters with a massive, life changing shock. Plato claimed that this shock, dragging someone from the dark of a false image, to the light of truth would be painful, but would leave them enlightened, however in The Picture of Dorian Gray those who idolized the image of Dorian Gray, the false imitation, will be devastated upon realization of the truth of how he acts.

Basil goes to speak to Dorian to tell to him of the rumors they have been spreading. Many people believe him to be immoral and a corrupting influence that must be avoided to keep one’s good name. Hearing such rumors trouble Basil because he worships Dorian so strongly and is so devoted to him. He even refuses to exhibit the portrait of Dorian, the imitation he made, “Because, without intending it, I have put into it some expression of all this curious idolatry.” (13 Wilde) Basil feared that the world would be able to tell how much he adored Dorian. Continuing his conversation, Basil claims “but you, Dorian with your pure, bright, innocent face, and your marvelous untroubled youth—I can’t believe anything against you.” (127 Wilde) Which is to say that Basil believes that when one commits sin it changes the man’s outward appearance, corrupting him and since Dorian is beautiful he is without sin...

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...e.” (Mulvey) Mulvey was referring to film and Hollywood where the object of fetishism seems either to not age or age well, while in Oscar Wilde’s novel Dorian actually does not age and as such exists outside linear time. In doing so Dorian becomes an eternal image to be fetishized.

Through his worship and fetishistic scopophilia Basil raises Dorian onto such a high pedestal, making the artist seem so low on comparison and upon realizing that Dorian truly is evil, Basil would think himself either so low in comparison to this evil, or a complete fool for worshipping Dorian. Basil dies knowing his work was based on a false image, an imitation of the perfect Dorian Gray who only existed for a fleeting while. Instead of the enlightenment Plato claimed he would receive the worshipper of the false imitation received only devastation upon learning the truth of Dorian Gray.