"the Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" depicts the moral tenets that exist in an individual personality. Dubbed as a book of pleasure, love, and mostly insanity, the whole events seem to configure around the main character; Dorian. The individualism is reflected through his consequential impacts of the choices he makes, his soul, and the untimely demise. In Ellmann comment on Wilde's autobiography, he points out that the author was a renowned aesthete who was particularly affected by the surrounding beauty and had a discreet subscription to flamboyant lifestyle and dressing (Ellmann, 136). As such, the themes in which he articulated to in his literary works subjected him to moral indignation and public distortion. Indeed the authors' character is reflected vehemently by the personalities of the different characters in the book. However, Wilde was able to hit the mark with his peculiar style and wit in executing his works and realized a tremendous success. Although all the characters seem to have endeared in shaping the personality of the author, Lord Henry's character best reflects Wilde's personality.

As described above, the author's personality is not wholly reflected in an individual character but aspects of Wilde's traits can be pinpointed from the 'depicted' personalities of the three main characters. The personality of the author configures around these characters. The clear similarities that is outlined in the romantic fascination of Basil with Dorian and later the author's revelation on his homosexuality pursuit leaves the reader with an interpretation that the author was using the literary works to show case his personality. Basil's statement clearly depicts that the author wanted to narrate his personal life to the reader when he said "put too much of [himself] into it" - the painting (p. 6). A personal opinion on which the character exemplifies author's personality is clearly illustrated.

Basil Hallward Character

Basil is portrayed to be obsessed with artistic work which clearly shows Wilde's endeavor in an attempt to shape overall society. It is from the artistic work of Basil that the reader understands Wilde's vision on how to approach life- age is not a deterrent to success. When contemplating on "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Weld's notes that "the artist is the creator of beautiful things [and that] to reveal the art and conceal the artist is art's aim" (Wilde 3). Here, the author's perception is clearly fulfilled by Basil. He not only provides a magnificent notion of Wilde's fascination but also provides a platform to which Dorian critically analyzes his life. Towards the end of the artistic work, the artist and the picture reveal the rancid nature of Dorian though it eventually leads to demise.

Fascination embodied by Basil towards Dorian bears resemblance to the personality of Wilde as both of them epitomize beauty. Basil commences his way of life in a self-realization trail but the focus is shifted towards idolatry when he meets Dorian. He realizes that his obsession with Dorian his extreme and the society would not encourage but it is beyond his control. As such he tells Harry: "I have always been my own master ... till I met Dorian Gray. Then ... Something seemed to tell me that I was on the verge of a terrible crisis in my life" (Wilde 9). The author's homosexuality is replicated in Basil's fascination towards men and the sexual indiscretions imminent during his time.

Lord Henry's Character

Lord Henry, Harry, is indifferent to the convectional wisdom and it is revealed immediately at the start of the book. His aesthetical perception of life encompassed with wittiness, enhances him to easily accept Dorian as his dependent or a protégé. As such, Dorian fits perfectly to that role and he is the main subject of the Harry's theories. Despite this, he understands that Wilde's perception of life is unconventional. For instance, in the preface he notes that "no artist has ethical sympathies [that] an ethical sympathy in an artist is unpardonable mannerism of style" (P. 4).