Dorian Gray Research Paper

Dorian Gray Research Paper
The many technological advances made during the Victorian Era in England drastically altered the way scientists, artists, and the public viewed art and
aesthetics. Aesthetics came to be a branch of philosophy that contained a set of principles concerning nature and appreciation of beauty and art. Due to
this change, a European art movement, known as the Aesthetic Movement, occurred in the late nineteenth century. This movement was based on the
doctrine that art exists for the sake of its beauty and appreciation alone. Therefore, art did not need to serve any political, educational, or other purpose.
It emphasized the importance of aesthetic values over moral and social themes in literature and the arts. The movement started as a reaction to the
dominance of scientific thinking and the hostility of the middle class society to judge whether or not art was useful or teaching morals. One of the
most prevalent values of the movement was suggestion as opposed to statement because no one could judge or try to reason the creation of any... Show
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Editors of the magazine initially felt that the novel was too provocative and omitted some of the words before it was published without telling
Wilde. Even though the editors worked to keep the work as decent as possible, it still managed to offend the morally cautious book reviewers in
Britain. In their eyes, Wilde completely disobeyed their society's rules of public morality. Though Wilde defended his novel and other works of art,
his revision and publication of the novel the following year included even more controversial material than it previously did. This revised version of
The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1891 which included a preface, which included the rights that the artist had and the argument of creating
art for the sake of art itself, rather than for the appeasement of Victorian
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Literary Analysis : Poetry With Simple And Beautiful...
It is extremely easy to associate late Victorian poetry with simple and beautiful things when poems about the aesthetics of both nature and city life were
so popular at the time. Decadent poets in particular loved to write about the beautiful, especially the beautiful in everyday things. They believed that
surrounding yourself with beautiful objects, including poetry, led to a better way of life, and that art required no further purpose than being aesthetically
pleasing. When it comes to the theme of suffering though, Victorian and late Edwardian poets had different ways of framing and expressing pain, some
of them through aestheticism, others by rejecting it. Between Wilde's extremely realistic portrayal of suffering, Housman's simple poetry and Naidu's
lush use of language to describe torment, it is clear that the famed notion of aestheticism of the period was not always prevalent when it came to the
expression of human pain. Through word choice, rhythm, symbolism and imagery, Naidu, Housman and Wilde each approach human suffering in
their own particular way, with Naidu embracing aestheticism to send a message and Housman and Wilde choosing a much more grounded and
realistic style. By focusing on and analysing The Ballad of Reading Gaol, To the God of Pain and The Day of the Battle and Farewell to Barn and
Stacks, those varying approach to the expression of suffering become quite obvious.
In The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Oscar Wilde approaches the theme of human suffering

The Decay Of Lying Essay
The key points of Aestheticism, discussed in detail in Oscar Wilde's fictionalized discussion between two characters, "The Decay of Lying," are the
following: Art never expresses anything but itself, all bad art comes from returning to life and Nature and elevating them to ideals, life imitates art
far more than art imitates life, and lying is the proper aim of art. According to these key points, many great pieces of literature would not be viewed
as art due to be so closely linked to life, or to some didactic message. Traditionally, literature was meant to teach or to leave some lasting message
behind, but according to Oscar Wilde, that is the complete opposite of art. Jane Eyre, the famous novel by Charlotte Bronte, is not exempt when it
comes to Wilde's ideas of what defines something as "art." While highly stylized with rich language and mystical allusions and symbolism, Jane Eyre
would not be considered a work of art because of how realistic it was, and because of how critical it was of modern society at the time. A key
component of art is that, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It should be a work of the imagination and not based in anything of this world. If it is too realistic or truthful, it cannot be considered a piece of art.
Even though the story of Jane and Rochester is a work of fiction, the setting itself is not imaginative at all. Had the story been real, it would have
taken place in Bronte's life time, and many of the events could have been experienced by her or by those she knew. "The ancient historians gave us
delightful fiction in the form of fact; the modern novelist presents us with dull facts under the guise of fiction" (2). Bronte committed a cardinal sin in
the eyes of Oscar Wilde; she created a story that, in Wilde's opinion, lacked an imaginative edge. Even though the story was fictional, it still contained
far too many factual elements to be considered

Dorian Gray Research Paper
Nick Smith English 4A Mr. Farrington March 3, 2017 Aestheticism in the Victorian Era Oscar Wilde disproves of people who act as metaphorical
machines, programmed to behave with society's ideas of manners and etiquette rather than allowing themselves to act freely and achieve the greatest
amount of happiness. Wilde's approval of an aesthetic lifestyle is shown in his depiction of Lord Henry in Dorian Gray. Lord Henry tells Dorian,
"We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind, and poisons us. . . . Resist it, and your soul grows sick
with longing for the things it has forbidden itself" (Wilde, "Dorian Gray" 9). Wilde, through Lord Henry, laments the constraining nature of his
Victorian society... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Openly admitting his creation, Algernon tells Jack how important it is to keep a "Bunbury" in one's life, especially when there are tasks and
responsibilities that one does not necessarily want to comply with. "ALGERNON:I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called
Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose. Bunbury is perfectly invaluable." In a similar fashion, Wilde is
quoted with saying that leading a moral (tedious) life is a "middle class" phenomenon while there is more joy that can be drawn from living like a
libertine. This is sealed with the words spoken by Algernon to Lane in Act I: "ALGERNON: Lane's views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really,
if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral

Aestheticism In The Picture Of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Grey In The Picture of Dorian Grey, Oscar Wilde, sets out to show the influence of aestheticism in late Victorian era. The
philosophy of aestheticism was that art should be judged purely by its beauty and form rather than by any underlying moral message 'art for art's
sake' that art merely exist to be beautiful (Buzwell). In writing the preface of the novel Wilde writes, "all art is quite useless." (Wilde 4) This
statement is in contrast to the events that take place in the novel. The artwork reflects the evil actions of Dorian Grey and a myriad of characters
are impacted by the influence the portrait has on its subject. As the novel begins Basil Hallward is in awe of Dorian Grey. It is apparent that Basil
Hallward admires Dorian's physical beauty to excess. He paints the young handsome gentleman with enthusiasm. Basil's artistic expression creates a
masterpiece. When first describing Dorian to Lord Henry, Basil describes how Dorian has become integral to his artistic expression, suggesting that
Basil's interest consists most essentially in Dorian's physical beauty, since that can be represented in Basil's art. As Basil is finishing the portrait and
once he is done, almost everything that he says to Dorian is flattery of Dorian's beauty. Dorian becomes in love with the painting and with his own
beauty. "He grew more and more enamoured of his own beauty, more and more interested in the corruption of his own soul." Basil is

Examples Of Aestheticism In The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde was one of the most famous writers in the history of England. He lived in the 19th century and was one of the major contributors to the
Aesthetic movement. He was a spokesperson for aestheticism. He tried his hand at various literary activities. He was an Irish playwright, novelist,
essayist and poet. He refined his ideas about the importance of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of duplicity, beauty and
decadence. He incorporated all these vital characteristics that define the supremacy of art into his only novel The Picture of Dorian gray written in 1890.
This novel bore the true essence of what an aesthetic literature brought to the table. The strong themes of beauty, narcissism, and... Show more content
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The portrayal of women, as nothing more than props; as household decorations and people of leisure and entertainment without any intellect or wit
calls to question of how Wilde's views of women are. It has been conjectured that the reason for this apathy for women characterization is due to his
sexual orientation. He being a homosexual brings about the idea that he doesn't want a female character with a decent role or to ever be in the
position to ever sexualize a female character. The Character Henry Wotton is a very powerful and dominant character. He is an intelligent man and
never lets up a moment to propagate his hedonistic and misogynistic viewpoints. It is believed that Lord Henry is the mouthpiece that Wilde uses to
voice his own views and opinions. So, we can, to some extent, associate Lord Henry to Wilde and question his viewpoints on people and society. One
of his quotes extracted from the novel illustrates how he talks about women–
"My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the
triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals" (4.9)
This quote was taken from one of the many sage advices that Lord Henry imparts to Dorian. Dorian was a kid who was brought up humble, gentle and
was taught not

The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay
Artists of any art form tend to use real life experiences as their muse. Oscar Wilde was no exception. In creating the story of The Picture of Dorian
Gray, Wilde used his experience of sitting in on a painting session, done by a Basil Ward. He then proceeded to comment on how it would be
amazing if the painting aged while the subject of the painting did not. Throughout the novel, we notice this kind of lifestyle being lived out by Dorian
and Lord Henry, but we also see how Dorian handles his conscience based on his actions. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel that, while it has its
controversies over what its purpose is, is a novel that "can function as an appropriate text for a wide variety of classes" (Waldrep; Smith II 53).
Despite what Wilde believed, practiced, and even the preface of the novel, Wilde wrote this novel as a lesson on morality.
Oscar Wilde's inspirations for writing The Picture of Dorian Gray comes from his own life. Oscar Wilde himself practiced aestheticism, or pleasing
the self. A literary critic of Wilde's work, Richard Ellmann, observes Wilde's life as "bent on a subversion of propriety and sobriety" (1). He even used
Mr. Basil Ward's name for the character Basil Hallward (Wilde; Jullian; Lawler 406). He frequently looked to satisfy his own desires, whether they
were morally or socially acceptable. He once was arrested for homosexuality, which was a crime in England at the time. Even Wilde's encounters with
his fellow writers prompted an

Beauty Is Beauty Lies On The Inside
Introduction:
Beauty has been interpreted in many ways since time immemorial. Many opinions have been sent across and criticisms on their take on this abstract
measurement have been heard by the masses. "Beauty is skin deep." "True Beauty lies on the inside." Beauty is celebrated in ways that define the
structure of societies. A whole system and society had been designed on the foundation of Beauty at one time. Even though the interpretations and
criticism of beauty has remained more or less fundamental and unchanged over the years, the physical definition of Beauty has been morosely dynamic
through times. When one considers the physical aspect of Beauty, we consider a number of variables to be taken into account while defining what one
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These redeeming qualities, amongst a vast pool, are the reason for people constantly striving for self–beautification and aestheticism. But, as we all
know, or learn eventually in life, nothing remains true to its nature. Nothing is fully right or wrong. The world is not made up of just plain black or
white. There is enmesh of the two; a gray area where things are not as simple as either right or wrong, true or false. This composite rule of nature is
present in the art of Beauty and aesthetics. So, naturally, there is a grim and dark side to this art. The negative affluence that arises from appreciating
beauty and objectifying someone or something for their physical appeal is the main focus of the dynamism and transitivity of this said art. Negative
qualities such as Narcissism, Egotism, Vanity and Self–absorption are the side–effects of having an inclination for Beauty. We can see that with
Aestheticism, one rely on the invocation of the sensuousness of a person rather than the moral and sentimental appeal; what lies on the surface is
appreciated and celebrated. This tradition of directing the perspective of how one sees Art and beauty and how one is to be molded to the trends and
diction of the society is highly debatable. One can see it as an overthrow of a previous redundant socio–political tradition that eventually bored and/or
tired the people out. One can also see it as the aforementioned grand plan of the universe to constantly keep

Hedonism And Aestheticism In The Victorian Age
Throughout history, art has reflected the morals of society and, in turn, society has projected its morals into art. In Victorian age, art cared the
responsibility of being helpful for social education and moral enlightment. Hedonism and Aestheticism are main artistic and philosophical movements
of the Victorian Age. The Aesthete believed that form was the essence of beauty and beauty was the highest perfection of human endevours. The
Aesthetic writers broke away from the confining conventions of their time and led very unconventional lives, pursuing pleasure and newsensations and
devoting themselves to the cult of beauty and art. The first principle of aestheticism is that art serves no other purpose than to offer beauty. Physical
appearance was extremely important in the Victorian era. Victorians trusted in physical appearance who believed that one's face and figure able to
disclose inner intentions and emotions of the person as attire reveals one's occupation. Aesthetic movement traditional Victorian concept... Show more
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Wilde's novel is an obvious evidence of the pervasiveness of main values of Victorian society. According to Wilde, "Aesthetic tendencies have to be
taken with prudence and have reasonable limits that imply moral responsibility." According to the critic Alex Ross, " Wilde's aestheticism, his
fanatical cult of beauty, was the deepest and most lasting of his passions, and it is now the most radical about him" (Ross 2011). In this novel,
beauty and youth reign over everything. In Victorian period, The Picture of Dorian Gray was characterized as scandalous and immoral. Typical
idealistic image of behavior and modesty inherent to old time Victorian England was discredited in the novel. The Picture of Dorian Gray contained
radical ideals for the period of time it was written. Dorian represents all what was disgraceful and forbidden condemned in Victorian

Comparison Between Pre-Raphaelitism And Aestheticism
Pre–Raphaelite artists are known for their paintings of overly romanticized women, many of which depict historically and mythologically powerful
women. While these paintings are aesthetically pleasing, they are not simply meant to be admired for their beauty. They convey the opinions of the
artist and reflect the perspective of the paintings' original intended audience, which would have been predominantly male. The male perspective is most
likely the reason that, despite the powerful reputation of these women, they are often depicted in ways that are subtly demeaning, belittling, and
objectifying. These methods consist of the use of seemingly insignificant details such as clothing, facial expression, and body posturing. and are best...
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Contrary to Pieri's argument, nearly every aspect of Pre–Raphaelite paintings has a meaning. Details as seemingly insignificant as facial expression,
body posturing, and even clothing could convey a figure's feelings, morality, and position in society. In "Expression over Beauty: Facial Expression,
Body Language, and Circumstantiality in the Paintings of the Pre–Raphaelite Brotherhood", Julie F. Codell explains that in Pre–Raphaelite art, a figure's
facial expression and body position were reflective of the studies of anatomy and its relation to psychology and morality that were popular at the time
and of which their Victorian audience would likely have full knowledge and understanding. She explains that "the study of anatomy was partly inspired
by the writings of Sir Charles Bell, whose underlying themes – the fugitive nature of emotions and the relativity of beauty – illuminate the
psychological interpretations of character intended by the PRB." She continues to explain that "in much Pre–Raphaelite art, the expression of powerful
feelings is not merely a means but an end itself; the emotional impact of their pictures is part of their meaning and not simply an accidental
side–effect." Therefore, the feelings the viewer experiences and the opinions they form, as influenced by the artists' use of body language and facial
expression, are the painting's intended meanings. Even the clothing a figure is depicted wearing implies a meaning, as

Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay
Aestheticism was a popular dogma in the late 1800s that centered on the belief that art should exist for beauty alone. This doctrine is defined as an
"exaggerated devotion to art, music, or poetry, with indifference to practical matters" and "the acceptance of artistic beauty and taste as a fundamental
standard, ethical and other standards being secondary" ("Aestheticism," def. 1 and 2). In Oscar Wilde's sole novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray,
aestheticism is a fashionable belief accepted by society at the time. Oscar Wilde uses the moral deterioration and ultimate destruction of Dorian Gray
in The Picture of Dorian Gray to emphasize the negative effects of society's preoccupation with aesthetics and offer a moral for the reader.
In ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
His devotion is based solely upon her skilled acting, but Wilde makes it clear that Dorian truly adores her:
She is all the great heroines of the world in one. She is more than an individual. You laugh, but I tell you she has genius. I love her, and I must make
her love me....I want to make Romeo jealous. I want the dead lovers of the world to hear our laughter, and grow sad. I want a breath of our passion to
stir their dust into consciousness, to wake their ashes into pain. My God, Harry, how I worship her! (Wilde 54)
However, Dorian's love soon turns to hatred when he sees Sibyl perform again. Sibyl, having never experienced love, is struck by her new feelings
and loses her passion and talent for acting because the play, Romeo and Juliet, no longer appears to her like true love, the love she feels for Dorian.
Her performance is stiff and unfeeling and Dorian looks like a fool in front of his friends, to whom he boasted about her talent. Dorian is
embarrassed and angry and reacts by disavowing his love for Sibyl. His sudden loss of affection offsets his previous vows of devotion and shocks the
reader. Insulting and bitter, Dorian rebukes his former sweetheart:
I loved you...because you realized the dreams of great poets and gave shape and substance to the shadows of art. You have thrown it all away. You are
shallow and stupid. My God! how mad I

The Picture of Dorian Gray: Corruption Through Aestheticism
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Corruption Through Aestheticism
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is the story of moral corruption by the means of aestheticism. In the novel, the well meaning artist
Basil Hallward presets young Dorian Gray with a portrait of himself. After conversing with cynical Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian makes a wish which
dreadfully affects his life forever. "If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that I would give everything! Yes,
there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that"
(Wilde 109). As it turns out, the devil that Dorian sells his soul to is Lord
Henry Wotton, who exists not only as something external to Dorian, but ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For Dorian, this is the ultimate evil act, the desire to rid himself of all moral sense. Having failed the attempt to escape through good actions, he
decides to escape by committing the most terrible of crimes. Aestheticism has claimed its final victim. "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord
Henry what the world thinks of me: Dorian Gray what I would like to be – in other ages, perhaps" (Hart–
Davis 352). Because of the endings he creates for these characters, Oscar Wilde proves that he does not envisions himself in the immoral characters of
this story nor is he attempting to promote their lifestyles. Of all the characters whom he creates, he sees himself as Basil, the good artist who
sacrifices himself to fight immorality. "It was his beauty that had ruined him, his beauty and the youth that he had prayed for" (Wilde 242). Contrary to
Wilde's claim in the preface that,
"there is no such thing as a moral or immoral book" (vii), this novel has a deep and meaningful purpose. "The moral is that an absence of spirituality,
of faith, of regard for human life, separates individuals like Wilde's Dorian Gray from humanity and makes monsters of them" (West 5831). W.H.
Auden feels that the story is specifically structured to provide a moral. He compares the story to that of a fairy tale, complete with a princess, a
wicked witch, and a fairy godmother.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray Aestheticism Analysis
"We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it
intensely. All art is quite useless." This is a stark claim made by Oscar Wilde in the preface to his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (3).
Along with the rest of Wilde's preface, this sentence rebukes literary realism in favor of aestheticism. This is unsurprising to anyone who is familiar
with the playwright's other plays and lectures; Wilde was an avid opponent of realism and a firm believer in the concept of "art for art's sake." Critic
Elizabeth Prettejohn claims that aestheticism includes a focus on the visual elements of a piece of art. Oscar Wilde had previously met the ... Show more
Before exploring Wilde's preface, it is vital to explore the definitions of "aestheticism" and "realism" as Wilde would have understood them. Elizabeth
Prettejohn defines aestheticism as a direct descendant of Pre–Raphaelitism in which the visual arts take center stage. These "visual arts" include
paintings and sculptures, but can also be found in nature. Due to the ambiguity of its subjects, aestheticism does not have one true definition, but is
commonly described as the movement that preceded Pre–Raphaelitism. While Pre–Raphaelites were concerned with the relationship between nature
and reality, aestheticism is concerned with differentiating art from the real (Prettejohn 1–2). According to various lectures that Wilde had given on
aestheticism throughout his lifetime, it is said that Wilde used the term "aestheticism" as a catch–all term for treating all forms of art, natural or
man–made, as beautiful for their own sake. (Prettejohn 4). In contrast to aestheticism, realism is defined by author George Eliot as "the doctrine that all
truth and beauty are to be attained by a humble and faithful study of nature, and not by substituting vague forms, bred by imagination on the mists of
feeling, in place of definite, substantial reality." Eliot claims that realism uses modesty to impose the modern, real world into art (Mullan 1). In the
preface of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde expresses his distaste of realists ("Those who find ugly

Art And Criticism: The Aesthetic Movement
By the end of the Victorian age and the 19th century, a new critical movement headed by Oscar Wilde. The Aesthetical movement came as a reaction
to prevailing utilitarian Victorian social philosophies. It argues that art and criticism as only cultivating the ennobling sensibility of beauty, therefore,
art is superior to life and criticism is superior to art. However, this criticism is so much attacked and criticized. First of all, the Victorian society was
extremely conservative. Literature, at that time, was so much associated with moral values and ethics as it intended to come face to face with realism.
Further, the mainstream Victorian art focused on the utility and the moral message of the work of art. Later... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Thus, Aestheticism was roundly criticized. Oscar Wild's "The Critic As Artist" was highly attacked as it highlights the importance of the form and
beauty over the content and the useful meaning of the text. To illustrate, Wilde's essay stresses upon the fact that personal impressions of the surface
beauty of the work of art are everything needed to view it rather than analyzing its deeper meaning. His criticism, therefore, strips the text out of its
meaning and hidden messages, it

WhatВґs Deconstruvist Architecture? Essay
Rem Koolhaas, Daniel Liebeskind, Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. Modern day 'starchitects' who – through their practice of deconstructivist architecture
– have heavily influenced the overall approach to today's architecture. But what exactly is deconstructivist architecture? Is it a derivative of
postmodernist principles, or something of its own entirety? Through the analysis of particular modern day architects and their works, deconstructivism
ascertains its emergence as a separate architectural form that contrasts with and challenges postmodern design principles.
Deconstructivism can be characterised as an external design principle developed and evolved from postmodernist architecture. Deriving its philosophy
from the works of controversial ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Deconstructivist architecture is more often than not perceived to be an extension of postmodernist design principles. However, through the works of
modern day architects such as Zaha Hadid and Daniel Liebeskind, deconstructivist architecture separates itself from postmodernism via structural
geometry and physicality. Postmodernist architecture concerns itself with the usability of a structure first and foremost – with the building's
aestheticism becoming an afterthought. This heavily contrasts with the philosophy of deconstructivism, as the structure's appearance takes primary
focus.
This deconstructivist philosophy is represented in Zaha Hadid's Beko Building. The structural properties of the building defy the architectural norm
through the randomness of the building's shape. As is displayed in the building's site plan the structure takes on an irregular 'water–droplet' form –
comprised of multiple layers and storeys– that highlight the importance of form rather than function.
The building focuses on its envelope as the structure's identifying feature with the overall usability seamlessly fitting with the buildings irregularity of
geometry. The use of non–rectilinear shapes allow for the shape to question the laws of physics yet simultaneously follow them in order to create a
structure that is atypical to the standard polygonal shape.
In contrast postmodernist structures – such as the Cube Tube by SAKO Architects– adhere to the norms of

Aestheticism In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Living a life without guilt or shame can be astonishingly enticing. Many people, especially in Victorian England, agreed with this notion. Many
distinguished authors, poets, and other influential members of society affirmed this belief. Among them was notorious author and playwright, Oscar
Wilde. Wilde was a known supporter of Aestheticism, a movement in which there are no morals to be found in art and where life is meant to be lived
in pursuit of passion with no room or regard for moral uprightness. Wilde lived a very flamboyant life, and most critics would agree that his novel, The
Picture of Dorian Gray, highlights this lifestyle which focuses on surrendering to one's temptations. A closer look at the work, however, instead brings
the reader to a different conclusion. The harrowing tale of Dorian Gray's rise and fall clearly criticizes the Aesthetic Movement, which gives way to the
idea of surrendering to one's whims as thoughtlessly as one would like, and instead draws attention to the direct relationship between art and morality.
Dorian Gray's tragedy is so astonishingly heartbreaking because at the beginning of his story, the protagonist is pure and unadulterated. When he
meets his new mentor, Lord Henry, he is undoubtedly corrupted. This sinister introduction to a life where beauty prevails over all ultimately leads
to Dorian taking his own life. Lord Henry, the poster boy for the aesthetic movement, shows the impressionable and vulnerable young man a new
point of view in life, one where a man must abandon an ethical stance in order to truly live his life to the fullest. Interestingly enough, as critic
Michael Gillespie points out, " a great irony... informs Lord Henry's character, for no matter how extravagant his language, he seems to do relatively
little" (Gillespie). Henry himself does nothing but sprinkle bits and pieces of wayward advice, by telling his new student things such as "the only
way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it," (Wilde 21) among many other decidedly misguided fragments of information, which Dorian takes to heart.
Soon after, he begins practicing under these aesthetic protocols. It is reasonably inferred that Lord Henry is the one responsible for the downfall of the

Oscar Wilde prefaces his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, with a reflection on art, the artist, and the utility of both. After careful scrutiny, he
concludes: "All art is quite useless" (Wilde 4). In this one sentence, Wilde encapsulates the complete principles of the Aesthetic Movement popular in
Victorian England. That is to say, real art takes no part in molding the social or moral identities of society, nor should it. Art should be beautiful and
pleasure its observer, but to imply further–reaching influence would be a mistake. The explosion of aesthetic philosophy in fin–de–siГЁcle English
society, as exemplified by Oscar Wilde, was not confined to merely art, however. Rather, the proponents of this philosophy extended it to life itself.
Here, aestheticism advocated whatever behavior was likely to maximize the beauty and happiness in one's life, in the tradition of hedonism. To the
aesthete, the ideal life mimics art; it is beautiful, but quite useless beyond its beauty, concerned only with the individual living it. Influences on others,
if existent, are trivial at best. Many have read The Picture of Dorian Gray as a novelized sponsor for just this sort of aesthetic lifestyle. However, this
story of the rise and fall of Dorian Gray might instead represent an allegory about morality meant to critique, rather than endorse, the obeying of one's
impulses as thoughtlessly and dutifully as aestheticism dictates.
In the novel, Lord Henry Wotton trumpets the aesthetic

William Merritt Chase In The Studio Analysis
During the 1870s a new category of art formed known as the Aesthetic Movement, which was based upon not what world was around the art, but the art
itself (Pohl 284). This movement originated in England and spread throughout the Americas opposing the current views about art during the time the it
arose, which was the ideology that art must always serve some sort of clandestine purpose. Artists who supported the Aesthetic Movement also denied
any moral values that people gave to art. The painting that I chose that best fits the ideals of aestheticism is In the Studio, 1880 by William Merritt
Chase. During the 19th century industrialization rapidly began to change American culture bringing on consumerism and capitalism, which focused on
the... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Artists such as Robert Henri and George Bellows (to name a few of the many) formed the Aschan School in attempt to present the shadows of urban
life normally ignored by the Academy. The artwork that emerged from this movement flashed a light upon the changes made by mass media, shifting
gender roles, immigration, and the public displays of wealth (primarily in New York). Artwork from the Aschan School exhibited the many dark sides
and light sides to the constantly moving urban cities of the Americas establishing a sense of disconnect between the densely populated city, and the
idea that these individuals live a life where they are mostly strangers to one another. One primary example of the Aschan School movement was the
painting by John Sloan titled Hairdressers Window. This painting was a scene in which a hairdresser is bleaching the hair of one of her clients. In the
scene many small, unimportant details are included just as vividly as the humans in the painting, such as the gloves worn by the hairdresser, or the
colored flower on the woman's hat to the right in the painting. Through these many insignificant details Sloan depicts the exact form of realism in urban
life during the 20th century. The scene in which he recreated was the

Dorian Gray Rhetorical Elements
Michelle Huynh
ENGL 1301.002
Rhetorical Analysis (Final Copy)
October 23, 2017
Rhetorical Analysis of "Oscar Wilde's Aesthetic Gothic: Walter Pater, Dark Enlightenment, and The Picture of Dorian Gray"
In "Oscar Wilde's Aesthetic Gothic: Walter Pater, Dark Enlightenment, andThe Picture of Dorian Gray," John Paul Riquelme explores the contradicting
perspectives of Oscar Wilde and Walter Pater on aestheticism. The author discusses the concept of aesthetic gothic and discovering beauty within
darkness. Thereupon, Riquelme remains in agreement with Wilde and attempts to persuade scholars and readers of the journal that elements of
aestheticism exist within the Gothic and vice versa. Riquelme also implies that there are lessons taught and learned through the darkness in beauty and
in life. This rhetorical analysis focuses on how the author utilizes the rhetorical appeal ethos, evidence, and subheadings to effectively impact his
audience.
Rhetorical Situation Riquelme uses ethos effectively and establishes his credibility by presenting the readers with evidence to back up his claims.
Throughout the article, the author refers to Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, in which Wilde criticizes Pater's literary works and asserts the
notion of beauty in the Gothic. In one instance, Riquelme recounts an event in chapter 1 when Lord Henry Wotton catches a glimpse of "the fantastic
shadows of birds in flight" and "laburnum blossoms whose tremulous branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flame–like as
theirs" (140). The contrast in connotation within the phrase "fantastic shadows" explores the effects of light and darkness. In conjunction, "laburnum
blossoms" used against "tremulous branches" visually depicts the notion of beauty within destruction. The author convinces the audience of his
viewpoint on aestheticism through this juxtaposed imagery. By referring back to this personification early in the novel, Riquelme demonstrates sound
knowledge of Wilde's text, perspective, and purpose. In addition, it is appropriate of the author to reference this particular passage as it foresees the
theme of creation and destruction of life as well as aesthetic in Gothic writing, which emerges

Decadence in Death in Venice
The premise of decadence was tremendously popular in late 19th century European literature. In addition, the degeneracy of the individual and society
at large was represented in numerous contemporary works by Mann. In Death in Venice, the theme of decadence caused by aestheticism appears
through Gustav von Achenbach's eccentric, specifically homoerotic, feelings towards a Polish boy named Tadzio. Although his feelings spring from a
sound source, the boy's aesthetic beauty, Aschenbach becomes decadent in how excessively zealous his feelings are, and his obsession ultimately leads
to his literal and existential destruction. Thus exemplifying, as will be examined in the following, how aestheticism is closely related to, and indeed
often... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, as he walked down the crowded city streets scrutinizing his second destination he was repulsed. "The farther he went, the more tortured he
was by the dreadful alliance of sirocco and sea air – a condition that both agitates and enervates. He sweated painfully. His eyes blurred, his chest
tightened, he was feverish, the blood pounded in his temples...wiping his forehead, he realized he had to find a different vacation spot." This idea is a
strong instance of aestheticism interacting with decadence in the sense that Venice originally represented to Aschenbach, beauty and renewal. His trip
was supposed to refresh him as an author and an aging man but instead he reached a land that, although aesthetically pleasing, was dirty, crowded, and
repugnant. The last moments before Aschenbach slipped into complete decadence, his object of adoration was not enough for him to suffer for. He
packed his bags and said his good–bye's to both the boy and the city that had twice made him ill, prepared to leave. Misdirected baggage was the
practical reason for his remaining in Venice but as Aschenbach gazed adoringly at his idol he admits to himself that it was Tadzio, the embodiment of
youthful beauty, who had made it so difficult for him to leave. At this point in the narrative it becomes clear that quite literally Tadzio is a
representative of the aesthetic muse that Aschenbach, being an artist, was searching for. From this point

The English Renaissance
ostracize and scoff at people who failed to exhibit their narrow definition of 'appropriateness'(Foldy). Aestheticism, more liberal and welcoming, was
the main contributor to the downfall of the Victorian era because it combated Victorian exclusivity and embraced expression. A major direct impact of
the aesthetic movement was spurred feminism. People invested in more elaborate and bold furnishings for their lives and homes, and boundaries were
expanded to give women more freedom, causing them to have a lesser presence of constriction and more of activity and frivolity (Brookes). This
breaking of Victorian control through the aesthetic movement made way for the notion of personal fulfillment as a viable–directed pursuit such as
choosing to marry beyond social appropriateness and functionality. Additionally, Wilde's aesthetically
–inspired infectious phrases increased the
involvement of the media and thus the eventual commercialization of arts and expression (Grech). Wilde was the poster–child of the men of the new
aesthetic movement (Adut); "The men of the movement were wispy, narcissistic and solipsistic."(Anderson). Wilde paraded on the indulgence of male
beauty and that in the countered–face of Victorianism he acted vain and pretentious according to Himmelfarb, Wilde would not deny this but rather
flaunt his vanity. This vanity coupled with his homosexuality made Wilde quite indiscrete. There is no denying that the aesthetes, (a person who
affects and shapes the

Happy Prince Personality
TERM PAPER ON "THE HAPPY PRINCE BY OSCAR WILDE" ARUN KUMAR #2011EE20510
INTRODUCTION:
The Happy Prince is an amazing short story by Oscar Wilde who is famous for Aesthetics movement. Aestheticism was a cultural phenomenon popular
in the middle of the 19th century. Its basic theory was "art for art's sake ". Aestheticism placed art above life and held that life should imitate art, not
art imitate life. The story criticizes badly the people who have shallowness in their character. It also brings out the life of low class public living in
19th century vs the middle "Town Councillors", "The Mayor". The story seems to be directed for children but it has lot to learn for adults too. It brings
out quality of generosity. It shows that a spiritual, internal beauty is more important than lavish decoration. Oscar Wilde has broad ranges of knowledge,
exaggerate rhetoric and the wonderful imagination in unconventional ways. In the 19th century the United Kingdom is a conservation society. Oscar
Wilde's unconventional is confrontation with the entire community. Wilde's inclination to homosexuality is also seen in the quote "The Swallow kisses
the lips of the The Happy Prince".
CHARACTERS:
Major characters: 1–The Happy Prince: The Happy Prince is the character created by Oscar Wilde which seems to be inanimate object but is seen to
come to life in the story when his tears starts dropping on The Swallow. The Happy Prince was a real live... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
From Wilde's point of view, the world of reality is full of evil, and the only purity land is kept in people's deep heart, where we can get the true, purity
beauty. In Wilde's fairy tales, the true
TERM PAPER ON "THE HAPPY PRINCE BY OSCAR WILDE" ARUN KUMAR

Art And Modern Art : The Evolution Of Aestheticism
The 19th century was a time of great progress in art, as well as an age of exploration in how women were portrayed in painting. It was a period in
which "modern art" as we presently define it truly began to develop. Without nineteenth century artists such as William Holman Hunt, John
Waterhouse, and Gustave Klimt, there is a significant chance that what we know as the art scene today would be radically different. This was an era
that shaped the medium of studio art into one with great creative freedom. The majority of the late 19th century art that I will be discussing tonight falls
under the category of Aestheticism, or art that seeks to express what is beautiful. To understand the origins of Aestheticism, one must first hear a brief
history of the mainstream art traditions that led to this change in values. Until around 1850, Academies of art ruled the art scene and defined what was
beautiful and what could be considered art. Academies included the French Academy and theRoyal Academy of Art in Great Britain, which were both
government organizations that controlled the education and exhibition of art. Any artist who was not trained and supported by these academies could
not have a successful career because they would not be accepted into the salons, or annual exhibitions organized by the Academy, where art was
displayed and purchased. The Academy had many standards that artists enrolled in their classes had to adhere to. First, the goal of the Academy was to
elevate the

INTRODUCTION Aestheticism, which found its footing in Europe in the early nineteenth century, proposed that art 'need not serve moral, political,
or otherwise didactic ends.' Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde was a dramatic leader in promoting the movement near the end of the nineteenth
century. The English essayist Walter Pater, an advocate of "art for art's sake," helped to form society's aesthetics in which they was more concerned
with the self, than with popular movements like Industrialism or Capitalism. His views, especially those presented in a collection of essays called The
Renaissance, had a profound impact on the English poets of the 1890s, most notably Wilde himself. In Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray,
Ascetism is a lifestyle characterised by abstinence from sensual pleasures, which was adopted by much of the world–weary middle class. In this
decade, many people in continental Europe felt a sense of discontent. The morals that once seemed to control life and give it meaning were lost to an
age of enlightenment. The two main reasons for this disillusionment were connected to the public functions of morality and art, which, in Victorian
England, were directly linked. It was thought that art should function as a moral barometer, and for many people, this dictum left room for only the
most restrictive values and uninspired art. The term "fin de siГЁcle" therefore came to describe a branch of thinking that sought to restore beauty and
meaning to art and to broaden it's public appeal. Thus, the concept of aestheticism was born. In this climate, an artist could assert himself as a rarefied
being, one leading the search for beauty in an age marked by social hypocrisy, shameful class inequality and illiberal complacency. No–one adopted
this attitude more boldly, or with more shameless flair, than Oscar Wilde. His dedication to living a life of beauty and to transform his life into a
work of art is reflected in the beliefs and actions of many characters in his only

Abstract Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of...
19th century England was entrenched in the idea that art could be used as not only a method of expression, but also one of social advancement. With
this idea at its forefront, art suddenly inundated places where art was never previously found, such as social education and morality. In contrast, Oscar
Wilde was a key advocate of an idea known aestheticism, a concept that relied on art simply being art. Oscar Wilde played a major role in Victorian
England, having a major influence through his writing. At its peak "the movement had a disdain for any traditional, natural, political, or moral ideals;
rather, the importance of nonconformist form and subject matter were fore grounded" (Majer). Wilde suggested that art should hold no purpose in ...
"To the aesthete, there is no distinction between moral and immoral acts, only between those that increase or decrease one's happiness; yet, Dorian
Gray refutes this idea, presenting a strong case for the inherent immorality of purely aesthetic lives" (Duggan). When the reader is first introduced
to Dorian Gray, he radiates the young naivetГ© similar to that of a child, but Lord Henry completely alters Dorian's personality. "The Lord Henry
that Wilde projects is, in accordance with Wilde's expressed philosophy, the ultimate artist" (Shuman). Dorian becomes Lord Henry's canvas, with
each word acting as a brushstroke on Dorian's life. "'Yes, he was certainly wonderfully handsome, with his finely curved scarlet lips, his frank blue
eyes, his crisp gold hair. There was something in his face that made one trust him at once.'" (2354) Yet instantly Wilde introduces to the reader that
Dorian is simply a representation of the true aesthete, personifying the philosophy that beauty is the only motivator in life. "Dorian is both a figure
representing the sacred virtues of art and also a hedonist, dedicated to gratifying his senses" (Sanyal). Dorian becomes consumed in a materialistic
lifestyle, surrounding himself with lavish objects for the sake of beauty and "ultimate pleasure". Yet, Dorian remains unhappy because he is not able to
separate himself from these objects and therefore remains an outsider to society itself.

Aestheticism In Victorian England
PARAGRAPH 1– MIDDLE CLASS/ORIGINS Aestheticism flourished partly as a backlash against the materialism of the growing middle class,
assumed to be composed of philistines (those who abide by the social attitude of anti–intellectualism that undervalues and despises art) who viewed and
responded to art in an unrefined manner, and who failed to appreciate the artistic worldview that was becoming fairly prominent at the time. Wilde
often describes in detail his disenchantment with the age in which he lived. Commonly referred to as the fin–de–siГЁcle (French for "end of the
century") period, the 1890s in Europe, and especially Britain, were marked by a cynical sensibility that sought to free society from "the asceticism that
deadens the senses". Ascetism is a lifestyle characterised by abstinence from sensual pleasures, which was adopted by much of the world–weary middle
class. In this decade, many people in continental Europe felt a near constant sense of discontent. The morals that once seemed to control life and give it
meaning were lost to an age of enlightenment. The two main reasons for this disillusionment were connected to the public functions of morality and
art, which, in Victorian England, were directly linked. It was thought that art should function as a moral barometer, and for many people, this dictum
left room for only the most restrictive values and uninspired art. The term "fin de siГЁcle" therefore came to describe a branch of thinking that sought
to restore

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde disputes the role and conflicts between Aestheticism and morality. He exposes his contradictions and inner
struggles throughout his three main characters: Lord Henry, a nobleman who criticizes the moralism and hypocrisy of Victorian society and openly
expresses his Aesthetic thoughts, Dorian Gray, a handsome model influenced by Lord Henry's views on beauty andmorality, and Basil Hallward, an
artist captivated by Dorian's beauty. The novel mainly deals with the different views the three men have on art, beauty and morality. The story is
based on the degradation of Dorian's soul, which is reflected in his portrait. As Dorian steps closer to immorality and corruption, the portrait changes
in appearance which eventually gives form to a hideous, unrecognizable figure. The goal of this essay is to expose the constant correlation between
Dorian's Aesthetic beliefs and morality and how his new lifestyle leads him to search for personal satisfaction regardless of the consequences.
Aestheticism originated in the Romantic period and the Pre–Raphaelites and expanded in Western Europe and America throughout the nineteenth
century. Water Pater was one of the most influential forces of Aestheticism in the nineteenth century and greatly influenced a large number of
philosophers. Aestheticism includes a certain devotion to art and implies the significance of beauty compared to other principles such as morality.
Aestheticism separates art from

Kill Bill Volume 1 Aesthetics
"Each person will make for himself the kind of nude he wants, with the nude that I will have made for him. He'll put everything where it belongs,
with his own eyes" (Picasso, 2009). This is what the term aesthetic is; an individual's set of ideas about style and taste, along with its expression.
Aesthetics has the role to enhance any visual object, appliance, theme and concept, inducing the trust and relationship of form and content within a
viewer or audience of a film or production. To fully understand how the role ofaesthetics furthers a theme or concept of a narrative we must look at the
medium of film and its scenographic elements. These elements contribute to establishing an atmosphere and mood for a film or theatrical presentation
(Eagan, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The quality, intensity and direction of lighting can influence an audience's understanding of a films characters, actions, themes and mood. The colour
of the lighting can also hold thematic relevance like in the film Kill Bill Volume 1 where one of the crazy 88 members run through a red hallway. This
red is used throughout the entire film and represents danger (Kill Bill Volume 1, 2003). This explanation is supported by the fact that the antagonists of
the scene all emerge from this red hallway proving the danger. Highlighted lighting in a film, for example, call attention to shapes and textures, while
shadows often conceal things, creating a sense of mystery or fear. For this reason, lighting must be thoroughly planned in advance to ensure its desired
effect on an audience. Lighting can make a scene feel happy, sad, mysterious or even dangerous hence furthering the concept portrayed in a film
without even needing dialogue from the actors. Lighting in its entirety plays a huge role in the aesthetic of a film as it creates the context furthering the
concept in which the entire film happens (G., 2000). It has an impact on acting, production design, costuming, editing, makeup, visual effects, the plot
and

Ekphrasis In Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray employs another example of ekphrasis. The portrait in the novel is more than just a painting. It is also a physical
manifestation of Dorian Gray's soul. This is its own form of ekphrasis: the portrait is describing his morality. It is achieving the effects that Dorian's
physical form cannot. This adds yet another layer of complexity; a soul is being described by a painting, which is in turn being described to the reader.
A solid object shows us in simplified terms state of Dorian's moral consciousness. At first, it only has "a touch of cruelty in the mouth (Wilde 65)."
Each time he views it, it becomes worse, until it is just a "hideous face on the canvas grinning at him (Wilde 154)" It is a ledger upon which all his
sins are recorded, piling one on top of the other until its renders the figure unrecognizable. Instead of simply describing the internalization of sin, Wilde
creates a visual representation of its effects on the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It seems to be his defining characteristic to all that interact with him. Wilde included this aspect for a specific reason. Aestheticism was an
up–and–coming movement during Oscar Wilde's time. It rejected the Victorian notion that art was supposed to have a moral purpose. Instead,
aestheticism said that art should be enjoyed purely for its beauty, and should not contain any purpose or meaning given by the artist (Quintus 559).
Wilde was a strong proponent of this movement, and he incorporated many of its themes into his work. In the preface of The Portrait of Dorian
Gray, Wilde starkly outlines his beliefs about art in a series of epigrams, saying, "the artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal
the artist is art's aim (Wilde 2)." Wilde clearly demonstrates his alignment with aestheticism and the appreciation of beauty. Not only does he personally
hold these beliefs, but his characters do as

Lady Mary MontaguВґs Travel Writing Essay
Lady Mary Montagu's letters are a form of travel writing that contributes to the exploration of issues; such as feminism, gender, health, class and
culture through an epistolary form. During the time in which Lady Mary Montagu wrote her letters travel was a means for commerce and trade.
Contrasted to this form of travel writing, is Oscar Wilde's Symphony in Yellow. This is in the form of a poem, which is simplistic in its structure and
appearance but not in its content or meanings. The title of the poem suggests that it has a substantial connection to music; however the reader is
presented with a poem centred on the narrator's view of a location. Similar to the form of poetry Oscar Wilde's The Harlots House explores the idea of
Her open attitude allows her to see society both subjectively and objectively. She is both understanding and does not stereotypically analyse
situations. To the reader her experiences provide a varied account of different cultures and the gender norms within them. "They believed I was so
locked up in that machine, that it was not in my power to open it, which contrivance they attributed to my husband." Here again she acknowledges the
way other cultures differ from her own. Judith Still recognises the way in which she is; "concerned not to fall into the Orientalizing clichГ©s of Early
Modern men's travel writing, which typically represents Muslim women as imprisoned in harems, enslaved, starved of sex and sexually voracious..."
Her uniqueness in character and behaviour is demonstrated from the start of her letters through to the very last ones. The attention to detail gives the
letters more of a descriptive insight. As well as this, using an epistolary form allows the reader to create an intimate relationship with Lady Mary
Montagu. Her accounts become more personalised and informal to the reader, to the point they can both emphasise and sympathise with her. The
development in character mentioned before is also more believable and apparent due to the personal and conversational tone of the letters.
Oscar Wilde's purpose in using the form of

What Is The Theme Of The Nightingale And The Rose
Chapter one Introduction
1.1The background of research
Oscar Wilde lived in Victorian era of the 19th Century while the industrial revolution was going on in the Britain. The society has undergone
unprecedented change at that time. Most people were greedy and mercenary. At the same time, the capitalist system was established in Western
Europe, The capitalist system plays a big role in human mind, People's world view and values view have changed a lot .The responsible Oscar Wilde is
extremely dissatisfied with the hypocritical and despicable society, saying the happiest human feeling–love was also controlled by money and
hypocrisy. In order to expose the naked money relations and the ugliness among people in Britain resulting by capitalist ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Just the little nightingale believes "Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. Flame–colored are
his wings, and colored like flame is his body. His lips are sweet as honey"пј€
жћ—еѕЅе› пјЊ2012пј‰The young student's suspect and the butterfly's
ridicule becomes the distinct contrast with the nightingale' pursuits for love insistently. The aestheticism connotation of spirits is explained perfectly
by this kind of art skill of fairy tale in

Aestheticism: The Aesthetic Movement
The "Aesthetic Movement" refers to the birth of principles which emphasised the element of art in the designs of metalwork, woodwork, ceramics,
glass, furniture, textiles, wallpapers, books etc. We will only touch on a few examples. The movement incorporated both exotic and historical
influences. It is widely agreed upon that the roots of the Aesthetic Movement lie in the reaction to Industrialisation (Nguyen, 2002).
It is important to consider the foundation of The Aesthetic Movement, which is the Arts and Crafts Movement. The movements are both fundamental
and interchangeable in their similar philosophies.
The driving force was both social and moral. The British Empire was the first to notice that factory conditions were dreadful and with it came the
lengthily campaign for social, industrial, moral and aesthetic reform which is in fact still unsolved today (Burke, et al, 1986). The Aesthetic movement
is only one aspect of this campaign, because the movement marks a period in peoples efforts to come to terms with industrialisation, it was not limited
to England. Similar attitudes developed in other European countries and even spread throughout the United States
The purpose of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Whilst he loves these indulgences, his behaviour kills him and others, he dies even more bleak. Dorian Gray is a story in which Wilde shows people
the dangers of the aesthetic philosophy when practiced in bad taste. Aestheticism, Wilde argues often relates to immoral behaviour (Dugan). This book
is important in this argument because the character of Dorian Gray and the story of his extreme degeneration gives a case study which looks into the
validity of an absolute Aesthetic

Sir Robert Chiltern And Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Contrariwise, non–Aesthetes including Sir Robert Chiltern and Lady Gertrude Chiltern are characters to which they behave restrictively as a
consequence from their obligations to societal decorum expectations of the Victorian English elite class. In comparison to the natural characters of
Lord Arthur Goring and Mrs Laura Cheveley, the impact ofAestheticism is to tragicomically ridicule Sir Robert Chiltern and Lady Gertrude Chiltern
actions that cultivate from the play complications to incontestably criticise the impact of Victorian English customs. Their actions are either
discerningly counselled or manipulatively blackmailed by the Aesthetes who because of their deliberate autonomy from the ruling beau monde as
shaped by Aestheticism, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is through this that Wilde depicts him as cowardly and hence easily swindled by both Mrs Cheveley and Lady Chiltern. He is constrained by
societal strictures where he suppresses his dubiety in the presence of Lady Chiltern by obeying her prompts to decline support for the scheme to
temporarily appease trepidation of them "drifting apart" (1.6). He further distracts her suspicions by stating "there is nothing in my past life that you
might not know" (1.6) to veil the immorality in his supremacy of success. Similarly, in Act 2 Scene 1, Sir Chiltern seeks Lord Goring to unravel his
confusion for integrity when the fate of his perfect public and private life become indistinct. Lord Goring influences Sir Chiltern's outlooks by airily
stating "everyone has some weak point. There is some flaw in each of us" and that he "must begin by telling your wife the whole thing" (2.1). Lord
Goring explains that Sir Chiltern should not be easily influenced by aristocratic morality and accept his pastimes to resolute his internal. Hence, it is
from this male bonding that Sir Chiltern is constrained by social obligations but establishes trust in Lord Goring's mannerism shaped by Aestheticism
and is inclined to reconstruct his restricted formalities.
Furthermore, Wilde illustrates Sir Chiltern

Aestheticism In The Decay Of Lying By Oscar Wilde
The literary landscape is a fertile ground for the discussion of many topics, be it taboos or ordinary subjects, that are seen worthy of representation,
drama as a literary genre is no exception. Being a controversial character known for his strange if not deviant style of life, Oscar Wilde offers the
English literary legacy a bunch of dramatic works that are still read and subjected to scrutiny till the present time. His drama holds the seeds of harsh
criticism to a certain portion of the society, namely the upper–class of Britain. These targets are selectively chosen to highlight the codes that govern
the social conducts within the aristocrats of the British Society. It is easily detected from the title of the three plays that Wilde devotes... Show more
Mrs. Erlynne, an extremely controversial character who is depicted as being a deviant woman, deviant here stands for the fact that she does not
hold the same characteristics of the Victorian virtuous female; she does not represent the chase wife since she abandons both her husband and
daughter for the sake of her lover., she is rather the model of the "fallen woman" ( Bose 86). Regardless of her past, Wilde related the character of
Mrs. Erlynne with the most chase figure in the world generally and the British society particularly; the mother, her strong devotion to help her
daughter serves as an illustration of how a "despised, mocked, abandoned, sneered at, [...] an outcast" (Wilde. 42) female can sacrifice her reputation
to save her daughter's. Other women in the play are depicted to be the sheer representatives of the Victorian model, Lady Windermere is the example
of the obeying wife whose concern is create the perfect atmosphere for her husband and child and to sacrifice for their sake "even if he had a thousand
love you must stay with your child" (ibid. 43), in this respect, one can lucidly highlight the

Aestheticism In Wilde's Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Lady Gertrude Chiltern Correspondingly, Wilde utilises Aestheticism to characterise Lady Gertrude Chiltern dissimilar to Lord Goring and Mrs
Cheveley and as "a touchstone of moral stability" (Bose, 1999) to indicate her restraints towards the model upper–class standards. Hence, Wilde
undermines the Victorian English notions, particularly of marriage, as exaggeratingly hypocritical and non–naturalistic (HornychovГЎ, 2010) as it led
to Lady Chiltern's disillusion and disappointment from her morally rigid admiration towards her husband's faГ§ade. Consequently, Wildes creates
dramatic irony into Lady Chiltern's dialogue and develops her distaste towards Mrs Cheveley. Primarily through dramatic irony established from
Lady Chiltern's prudent dialogue, Wilde depicts her stagnant pride highly tuned from societal conventions to dramatise the hypocrisy of Victorian
English strictures as it negatively impacts the relationship between Lady Chiltern and Sir Chiltern. In Act 1 Scene 6, Sir Chiltern hints at his pastime
indiscretions to observe Lady Chiltern's reaction where her replying dialogue stresses that one's past is what one is and that would be the only way
people should be judged (1.6) and thus ironically conveys her Victorian English morality when the audience already have knowledge about Sir
Chiltern's political misdemeanours. This is further noted in her dialogue where she will "love him always" (1.6) but only because he will always "be
worthy of her love" (1.6) rather than

The Picture of Dorian Gray
Aestheticism is a philosophy in which its followers practice complete self–indulgence. Aesthetic principles teach that the arts, beauty, and youth are
absolute over anything else. People who follow this philosophy are very egotistical, and are extremely concerned with appearances. It is often
associated with jewelry, painting, music, and perfumes. (insert quote to prove) All followers of Aestheticism put activities pertaining to beauty above
anything else. Their priorities hold beauty above attributes such as kindness, morality, and intelligence. Hedonism is a practice that is very similar.
Followers of the philosophy of Hedonism conclude that pleasure is the most important aspect of life. In the picture of Dorian Gray, Aestheticism and ...
A critic points this out, "Dorian's portrait confers visibility upon an internal corruption that otherwise escapes sensory apprehension" (Craft 114). The
only way Dorian can see the decimation of his morality is through the portrait, so that is why he continually goes to gaze upon it. Although the
upper–class in London have noticed an evil change in Dorian, "I think it right that you should know that the most dreadful things are being said
against you in London" (Wilde 153), he is still a prominent member in society because of his beauty and youth. and in the opinion of most people his
frank, debonair manner, his charming, boyish smile, and the infinite grace of that wonderful youth seemed to never leave him, were in themselves a
sufficient answer to those calumnies (for so they termed them) that were circulated about him (Wilde 145) They did not believe that someone so
attractive could commit such atrocities. This again shows the priorities of the English people of this time, valuing beauty over morality.
Before Dorian was introduced to Lord Henry, both his soul and his sense of morality were innocent. Before Lord Henry's influences Dorian was
carefree, young, and moral. He was regarded as a helpful member of society before his corruption. Before Lord Henry met Dorian, he stated that he
had heard his name before. He realizes that his aunt Lady Agatha that had talked of Dorian, "She told me she had discovered a wonderful young man,
who was

The Picture Of Dorian Gray Quote Analysis
Beauty or Intelligence The writer of The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar wilde in 1890 states "Beauty is form of Genius––is higher, indeed, than Genius,
as it needs no explanation. It is one of the great facts of the world, like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in the dark waters of that silver shell
we call the moon." It can be implied that wilde believes the being beauty equals intelligences, this is seen when he states "Beauty is form of Genius."
With beauty meaning is an pleasant or appealing thing or person , and genius being someone who is exceptional intelligence. Furthermore showing
that beauty is equal to intelligence. More so however , goes own to state that beauty is superior to intelligence by stating "is higher, indeed, than
Genius, as it needs no explanation." This is shown with higher meaning better or with more than genius which means intelligence. Implying that wilde
valued beady over intelligence and what in a person's head. Going on to imply that this should be known truth to the world's population, when he
states "It is one of the great facts of the world, like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in the dark waters of that silver shell we call the... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Wilde was an frim support of the aestheticism movement, which is a movement that states art was meant for beauty alone and not for an hidden
agenda. This give credence to why he would say something like quoted above. He was also alive during the victorian age of england were arts and
literature flourished with works being created by Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and , Bronte Sisters. While advocating for the aestheticism
movement he toured Canada and the U.S. talking about the beauty of the arts. Giveing that the art were flourishing and him being apart of the
aestheticism show that he want people to see that the arts should be taken seriously , and see an beauty and not just used for politics or other hidden

Oscar Wilde was a known supporter of Aestheticism, a movement in which there are no morals to be found in art and where life is meant to be
lived in pursuit of passion with no room or regard for moral uprightness. Wilde lived a very flamboyant life, and most critics would agree that his
novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, highlights this lifestyle which focuses on surrendering to one's temptations. A closer look at the work, however,
instead brings the reader to a different conclusion. The harrowing tale of Dorian Gray's rise and fall is used as a criticism of the Aesthetic
Movement, which gives way to the idea of surrendering to one's whims as thoughtlessly as one would like, and instead draws attention to the direct
relationship between art and morality. Dorian Gray's tragedy is so incredibly heartbreaking because at the beginning of his story, the protagonist is
pure and unadulterated. Lord Henry corrupting the young man and introducing him to a life where beauty prevails over all is what ultimately leads
to Dorian taking his own life. Lord Henry, the poster boy for the aesthetic movement, shows the impressionable young man a new point of view in
life, one where a man must abandon an ethical stance in order to truly live his life to the fullest. Interestingly enough, " a great irony... informs Lord
Henry's character, for no matter how extravagant his language, he seems to do relatively little" (Gillespie). Henry instead only sprinkles wayward
advice, by telling his new

Dorian Gray Aestheticism
Whenever someone is involved in a debate, they are quick to refer to the opposing party as close–minded and unreasonable. I understand that
individuals that are ignored in their debates tend to appear to be more liberal in their beliefs. So, I decided to thoroughly explore the mechanisms
of change in order to discover why people are so afraid of opposing viewpoints. I wished to explore this concept because change is one of the only
forces in this world that is immutable. It baffles me why humanity wishes to resist the only thing we are certain exists in this world. Especially since,
we devote a large portion of our lives searching for answers to an infinite amount of questions. The Jungle provided an excellent example of change in
physical form since the book itself is a mechanism of change. The novel... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This book explored a concept that everyone understands, but at the same time does not comprehend our innate desire to pursue it. Beauty is one of
the things man has been obsessed with since the creation of mankind. We are so fascinated by beauty and yet we believe ourselves to be incapable
of achieving true beauty because we are tainted by corruption. The author explored the essence of Aestheticism in order to portray how man tries to
lead two lives. Although man may attempt to run from himself and put on a fabricated image of perfection and constancy, one can never escape the
truth behind the corruption of their soul. People become so drowned in creating a beautiful and pure artwork that they fail to examine the impurity of
the materials used to compose the artwork. A lie done in the name of beauty is still impure regardless of the outcome. In order for one to understand
how to change for the better, they must be able to analyze the flaws behind their mistakes. However, a large portion of society refuse to acknowledge
these flaws, and because of that they fail to see the need for

Dorian Gray Research Paper

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