Analysis of Beauty Theme in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray

This essay provides an analysis of the theme of beauty in Oscar Wilde's novel, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' The essay begins with an introduction to the novel, highlighting its Gothic and psychological elements, and the central character, Dorian Gray, who wishes to remain young while his portrait ages. The discussion section delves into Wilde's emphasis on beauty as the highest form of art, supported by examples from the novel, such as Sir Basil's admiration of Dorian's beauty. The author argues that Wilde believed in the importance of beauty in all forms and that artists should select subjects that align with the theme of the art. The essay also explores the author's disagreement with the idea that art must be virtuous or have a moral stance, instead emphasizing the ethical considerations artists should have when choosing their subjects. The conclusion reiterates the novel's focus on the theme of beauty and serves as a warning about the dangers of pursuing desires that could lead to problems in the long run. The essay concludes with a list of references used for research.

Running head: ANALYSIS OF THEME OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY
Analysis of Themes of The Picture of Dorian Grey
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ANALYSIS OF THEME OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY
Executive Summary: -
The Picture of Dorian Grey is a novel written by English author Oscar Wilde which
tells the story of the protagonist Dorian Grey and how he wishes his picture to age while he
himself will remain forever young. What happens next is basically what the story by Oscar
Wilde is about. This research report will have a look at the theme of beauty that have been
used in the novel or the short story by the author himself and argue why beauty is the most
important form of art by the author himself.

2ANALYSIS OF THEME OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
Reference List............................................................................................................................6

3ANALYSIS OF THEME OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY
Introduction
The Picture of Dorian Grey is a Gothic and psychological novel written by Oscar
Wilde. The novel deals with the character of Oscar Wilde and how he finds a painting and
starts to admire its beauty wishing his image in the painting to age while his real age remains
the same as ever. The portrait begins to age while Dorian Grey remains the same in his real
life. After the incidents in the novel are revealed to the readers themselves, Dorian Grey
finally grows tired of himself and stabs the old version of himself in the picture which
reverses the change and kills Dorian while the picture. This essay will talk about the theme of
beauty and why it is considered to be the best form of art by the author in the novel itself.
Discussion
In the novel and the short story, the author Oscar Wilde had laid emphasis on theme
of the beauty and had expressed the fact that beauty is indeed the best form of art by the
author himself. There are ample instances provided by the author to explain the claims that
were made by him. The instances are evidenced in the novel where Sir Basil draws Dorian’s
picture claiming it to be one of the most important themes in the world. As stated by
Behrendt (259), this statement by the character fits in with the author’s belief that the beauty
is the purest form of art. This is because the author himself was a great believer of beauty
himself that beauty comes in all forms and types and each and every type of beauty should be
appreciated by all individuals and in every form of their lives.
The author focused art on the basis of beauty stating that beauty is the real underlying
factor based on which the artists decide to make the art themselves. This is what has been
presented by the author in the instances of the picture of Dorian Grey which the protagonist
himself admires the picture that the artist had painted of him (Simion: 58).

4ANALYSIS OF THEME OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY
At the same time, the author disagrees with those who believe that the art needs to be
virtuous or needs to have a moral stance in them. Instead the author argues that the artists
need to have an ethical code while choosing the subject of the art themselves. This is
evidenced in the novel when the protagonist Dorian Grey falls in the hedonistic influences of
his friends and starts wishing that the picture on the wall should age instead of the subject
themselves. This is what provokes Grey to get trapped in the hedonism and start getting
trapped by the wishes that he makes himself (Rodrigues-Junior: 259). This theme also
explores the themes of beauty in the sense that the author wants the readers to understand the
fact that the beauty of the objects of the art should be chosen in such a manner so that these
subjects can be related to the theme of the painting itself. Thus, these subjects are the main
considerations of the author while deciding whether the art is indeed a real form of beauty as
it is stated by the experts.
Art is also mentioned in various manners in the book as well as the novel in which the
story of Dorian Grey is told by the author himself. Therefore, it is the author’s claims that the
beauty is indeed the purest forms of art which has been presented in various instances that the
readers have been witnessing in the novel itself. By the themes presented in the novel itself,
the author has presented the beauty of art as a subject which needs to be appreciated by not
only the author himself but also other people who witnesses the art itself.
The author also points on the importance of the subject matter as art being neglected
in the society at the time the novel was being written (Behrendt: 2016). Thus, the art indeed
plats an important role in the works of the author as well as in the subject matter that has
presented in the novel itself. The author is presented with a variety of instances which proves
the point of the author himself. Through all the points presented in the novel itself, the author
has successfully pointed out the fact which proves the authenticity of the claims made by the
author himself. It is through the materials presented in the novels itself that the author has

5ANALYSIS OF THEME OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY
successfully draw the attention of the audiences into the importance and the beauty of the art
to the audiences themselves. Thus, it can be said that the author has indeed been a supporter
of theme of beauty to prove this fact to the audiences themselves (Simion: 55).
Conclusion
The above paragraphs in the text points out the point that the Picture of Dorian Grey
indeed shows the readers about the theme of the beauty of the art of the subject itself. In the
story, Dorian Grey falls into a trap by wishing himself to remain forever young compared to
the picture which keeps turning old. Therefore, the author informs the readers about the
beauty of the art but at the same time, also focuses on warning the readers from wishing
something which might cause them problems in the long run in their lives .

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Reference List
Behrendt, Patricia Flanagan. Oscar wilde eros and aesthetics. Springer, 2016.
Rodrigues-Júnior, Adail Sebastião, and Leila Barbara. "Linguistic constructions of appraisal
in the novel The Picture Of Dorian Gray and its Brazilian translation and adaptations:
an exploratory analysis." Revista Brasileira de Linguística Aplicada 13.1 (2013): 259-
285.
Rodrigues-Júnior, Adail Sebastião, and Leila Barbara. "Linguistic constructions of appraisal
in the novel The Picture Of Dorian Gray and its Brazilian translation and adaptations:
an exploratory analysis." Revista Brasileira de Linguística Aplicada 13.1 (2013): 259-
285.
Shea, C. Michael. "Fallen Nature and Infinite Desire: A Study of Love, Artifice, and
Transcendence in Joris-Karl Huysmans’s Á rebours and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of
Dorian Gray." Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 17.1 (2013): 115-
139.
Simion, Minodora Otilia. "A new hedonism in Oscar Wilde's novel the picture of Dorian
Gray." Analele Universitatii" Constantin Brancusi" din Targu Jiu. Serie Litere si
Stiinte Sociale 1 (2015): 55-58.

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