Characters and Narrative Techniques in The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde's "Il ritratto di Dorian Gray" is notable not only for its plot and themes but also for its complex characters and innovative narrative techniques. The novel's characters reveal themselves primarily through dialogue and the perceptions of others, a technique more commonly associated with drama.
Dorian Gray, the protagonist, represents the ideal of youth, beauty, and innocence. Initially introduced through the words of the painter Basil Hallward, Dorian is portrayed as an immature but pure individual. As the story progresses, we see his transformation under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton.
Quote: "You have a wonderfully beautiful face, Mr. Gray. Don't frown. You have. And Beauty is a form of Genius—is higher, indeed, than Genius, as it needs no explanation." - Basil Hallward to Dorian Gray
Lord Henry Wotton serves as the catalyst for Dorian's moral decline. He introduces Dorian to hedonistic philosophy, encouraging him to pursue a life of pleasure and sensation. Dorian's speech begins to mimic Lord Henry's style, indicating the profound influence of this character.
Vocabulary: Hedonism - The pursuit of pleasure as a way of life and the belief that pleasure is the highest good.
Basil Hallward, the artist who paints Dorian's portrait, represents the intellectual who falls in love with Dorian's beauty and innocence. His murder at Dorian's hands symbolizes the destruction of art and innocence by corrupted beauty.
Highlight: The dynamic between Dorian, Lord Henry, and Basil forms a triangle that represents different aspects of Wilde's aesthetic philosophy.
The narrative is presented by an unobtrusive third-person narrator, allowing for a process of identification between the reader and the characters. This technique enables Wilde to present multiple perspectives and moral standpoints without overtly passing judgment.
Example: The narrator's description of Dorian's first encounter with his portrait: "The sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation. He had never felt it before."
Wilde's vivid descriptions of settings appeal to the senses, creating a rich, atmospheric backdrop for the story. This sensory approach aligns with the aesthetic principles that Wilde championed, emphasizing the importance of beauty and sensation.
Definition: Aestheticism - A late 19th-century movement that advocated art for art's sake and emphasized aesthetic values over social or political themes in literature, fine art, and decorative arts.
In line with his aesthetic philosophy, Wilde rejected the didacticism that had characterized many Victorian novels. He believed that art should give pleasure rather than teach moral lessons. This stance is clearly articulated in the novel's famous preface.
Quote: "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all." - From the preface to "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
The preface, originally published as an essay in a literary magazine, consists of a series of aphorisms that outline the basic principles of Aestheticism in England. It serves as both an introduction to the novel and a manifesto for Wilde's artistic philosophy.
Highlight: The preface to "Il ritratto di Dorian Gray" is often studied separately as a key text in understanding the principles of Aestheticism.
Through these characters and narrative techniques, Wilde created a novel that not only tells a compelling story but also serves as a vehicle for his ideas about art, beauty, and morality. "Il ritratto di Dorian Gray" remains a seminal text in the study of late Victorian literature and the Aesthetic movement.
