Week 2 Lesson 2: The Picture of Dorian Gray

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

learning goals

I know the basic plot of The Picture of Dorian Gray. 

Victorian Era: Characteristics

• daily life
  
• moral purpose
• idealism/ideal life
• pessimism
• visually descriptive
• dramatic monologue
• takes inspiration from renaissance

Why was the novel successful? 

1. intended for middle class

2. flexible

3. escapism (industrial revolution Vs. refuge in nature)

4. realistic

5. solutions to complex issues

Characteristics of Victorian Novel: 

1. Standard middle-class (bourgeoisie) habits and standards of behaviour.

2. The most popular topic is the adaptation of the individual to society. (Was this similar to the Romantic era?)

3. Emphasis on the way that characters develop. 

(lower class described in a boring manner, aristocracy portrayed in a jealous/arrogant manner). 

Romanticism

Victorian

pessimism

Nature = 

godlike

symbolism

Bildungsroman

inspired by the

Renaissance

concern 

for outcasts of society

daily life

visually

descriptive

supernatural

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

• Born in Ireland
• Playwright, poet and writer 
• Novel: The Picture of Dorian Gray
• married, two children
• Imprisonment (2 years) on charges of homosexuality
•  Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill

1854-1900

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Themes & 

Background

Themes explained

• Aesthetic Movement:  Victorians believed art had to have a clear objective: educate masses, distinguish good from bad, be beautiful. The aim of art was to have no aims = Art for Art's sake.
• Hedonism: the theory that pleasure (the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and aim of human life. 

Themes explained

• Theme of Faust: sell soul to devil in return for beauty, wisdom and pleasure. In the end nothing is gained. 
• immortal beauty of youth opposed to becoming older, uglier and meaner
• appearances are deceptive

Background:

• commotion after publication: homosexuality and mistresses. The novel was used as evidence in a lawsuit in 1895 against Wilde, tried and convicted on charges of homosexuality.    

• Wilde's response: “There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. " "Book are well written, or badly written."

• The novel could be read as a profoundly moral book, even a cautionary tale against the dangers of immorality. 
  

the inciting moment

Dorian then arrives and is fascinated by the portrait. Basil decides to give the portrait to Dorian.  Henry explains that one should give into impulses in life and that beauty and youth are fleeting. Dorian then declares that he would give his soul if the portrait were to grow old and he would remain young and beautiful. 

rising action: the heartbreak

Henry makes it his goal to try to mold Dorian's personality.  Dorian tells Henry that he has fallen in love with an actress called Sibyl Vane. He attends a performance of Sibyl together with Henry and Basil. Sybil declares her love for Dorian, she cannot pretend to be in love on stage anymore now that she knows what real love is. Dorian is repulsed by this. 

rising action: a changing portrait

When Dorian arrives home, a cruel expression has appeared on the portrait's face. He decides to ask forgiveness of Sybil, but the next day Henry tells him that she has committed suicide and that Dorian should not feel bad about it. 

climax: to repent or not to repent?  

Dorian moves the portrait to the attic and receives a book from Henry which influences him to become more and more extravagant and evil while the portrait continues to age. 

Basil confronts Dorian on his excesses and destroying lives.

Dorian shows Basil the horrifying portrait. Basil tells Dorian that if this is a reflection of his soul that he should repent. Dorian kills Basil in a rage. 

Falling action

Dorian and James Vane (Sybil's brother) meet in a opium den where James wants to kill Dorian, but he changes his mind since Dorian appears to be very young. Later on, James is accidentally killed during a hunting party. 

The resolution

Dorian tells Henry that he has become virtuous and that he has decided to not take advantage of a young girl who fell in love with him. Dorian then wants to see whether the portrait has changed due to his honourable act. The man in the portrait now has a sly look in his eyes. Dorian decides to attack the portrait with a knife. The servants hear a scream and find a dead old man on the floor with a knife in his chest and the portrait is a beautiful young man again. 

Homework: discussion questions

1. Relate at least 2 Victorian elements to the novel. Make sure to explain your answer by using an example from the novel. 

2. Which conflict would you say is present in the book? (man Vs. man, man Vs. society, man Vs. nature) Explain your answer.

3. How can The Picture of Dorian Gray be considered an example of the Aesthetic movement? Explain your answer. 

4. Find a quote by Oscar Wilde that you like and explain it.