Quite honestly, I did not like The Picture of Dorian Gray or Oscar Wilde at first. I wanted to switch to a novel that seemed easier to write about, less philosophical and morally ambiguous, but as I began to research Wilde and pushed through in reading the novel and analyzing its characters, I understood the … Continue reading Long Story Short, Wilde Deserves a Fan Club →

Lord Henry summarizes the self-revolved cycle of thought humans often fall into when he states, "If one puts forward an idea to a true Englishman-- always a rash thing to do-- he never dreams of considering whether the idea is right or wrong. The only thing he considers of any importance is whether one believes … Continue reading The Times Only Change in Number →

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com The Picture of Dorian Gray, like most novels, derives its character from the life of its author. At the same time, the art as a window into the author's soul. In the case of this novel, it seems Oscar Wilde has infused his life into his art. As he … Continue reading Dorian Gray Meets Freudian Theory →

Although the most noticeable motifs of The Picture of Dorian Gray tend to be sin and corruption, Oscar Wilde also addresses the motif of Love vs. Obsession. This concept is actually quite central to the novel as the main character's relationships with others tend to have an unsettling quality far from selfless love. One might … Continue reading Side Effects of Rose Colored Glasses →

Have you ever wondered about the psychology behind charming Mr. Gray's spiral into decrepit, soul-staining ruin? An article entitled "Two Types of Psychopath" published online by Psychology Today asserts that Dorian was a narcissist, but I personally think that like any well-written madman, he didn't start out that way. Photo by Mitja Juraja on Pexels.com At the beginning … Continue reading Lord Henry the Narcissist and his Psychotic Protege →

In Oscar Wilde's acclaimed novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, the immoral yet sage Lord Henry advises an impressionable youth, Dorian Gray, in the value of Aestheticism and its superiority to logical genius. Most memorably— "'Youth! Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth!'" (Wilde 23)— Lord Henry asserts Youth as the most … Continue reading The Fountain of Youth: Nature’s Beauty →