Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray
"I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world." (1.19) – Lord Henry
During the aesthetic movement, art had no morals attached to it. It was simply either beautiful or ugly, in which the beautiful became equated with being moral, and the ugly became equated with being immoral. The beautiful during this time period was reverently sought out and appreciated.
This ideal of beauty being of higher importance than morality is demonstrated in the book with the characters Basil, Lord Henry and Dorian Gray. Each character has a different viewpoint of Beauty and Morality.
Basil finds value in beautiful and pleasurable things.
This is his downfall though, because he does not make distinctions between what is beautiful and what is good, or what is beautiful but morally wrong.
This is seen when he is murdered by Dorian Gray, who although is beautiful, is not morally a good person.
Basil’s infatuation with Dorian Gray imminently causes his demise, for he was the one who created the portrait that showcased Dorian’s moral wrongdoings. The portrait caused Dorian to murder Basil rather than face him moral wrongdoings
Lord Henry – A rich aristorcrat who values only what is pleasurable to him. He has no regards for morality, and takes advantage of anything or anyone that he finds of interest.
This is seen in the book with Lord Henry’s infatuation with Dorian Gray.
He uses Dorian, who represents youth and beauty, for his own devices and pleasure. He tries to steer Dorian towards trivial wants and pleasures, instead of towards what is morally right.
Dorian Gray- A young aristocrat who has not quite fully decided where he stands in terms of his values towards beauty and morals. He is youthful and beautiful, and these characteristics are greatly admired by both Basil and Lord Henry.
Dorian’s youth and beauty cause him much trouble though, for Lord Henry is influencing him to indulge in the beautiful and pleasurable, while Basil’s youthful portrait is showing him the consequences of following such a path.
Dorian is torn, but continues to choose the path of immorality and instead chooses pleasure. Over time the painting, which represents his soul, begins to age and show the evils that Dorian has done.
The portrait represents the struggle Dorian faces in balancing beauty and morals.