Seminal works such as myths encapsulate ideas and concepts recurrent within the society in which they are presented. The universality of these themes and characters result in these ideas being constantly adapted to different contexts. Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, a controversial 19th century gothic novel, both retains and adapts central motifs and characters from Ovid’s classical myth “Echo and Narcissus”. Wilde’s novel illustrates the societal workings of the upper Victorian class, exploring ideas of narcissism, New Hedonism and Aestheticism. Wilde retains the condemnation of narcissism from the original myth through his savage denouncement of narcissism within the upper echelons of Victorian England society and adapts the
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Whilst Wilde retains the theme of narcissism from the original myth, he extends the condemnation of an individual’s morality into a critique of the moral degradation of the entire upper Victorian class. The character of Lord Henry Wotton represents the upper strata of fin de siècle England with his values and attitudes indicative of those shared by the rest of upper society. Lord Henry’s narcissism is epitomised through his egoistic hedonistic world-view in which he believes all people, art and money as tools of his own pleasure, following Aristippus’s theory that pleasure is the highest good. The repetition of good in “I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects” characterises his narcissistic nature in which he believe he has the right to choose who is “worthy” to be in his association. Also the quote “He was pleased by it. It made him a more interesting study” by Lord Henry in accordance to Dorian demonstrates his lack of morality due to his narcissism. The use of the noun “study” accentuates Henry’s view of people as objects and the superficiality of his friendship with Dorian in which he …show more content…
Whilst Basil’s love for Dorian is a direct parallel to Echo’s love of Narcissus, his conscience and keen perception of human nature are indicative of Tiresias’s wisdom. This is seen in the introductory chapters with Basil’s warning of “don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad’. This foreshadows Dorian’s inevitable downfall and corruption demonstrating how Basil understands both the workings of Lord Henry’s mind and can see the consequences of his influence. Also his description as having an “intellectual expression” characterises his inner wisdom and as he is an artist, links intellectualism to aestheticism - a late Victorian England movement. This demonstrates how Wilde has adapted the character of Tiresias into an artist to exemplify the importance of aestheticism to both 19th century England and himself. However, while Basil is the wisdom figure throughout the novel, his deep infatuation with Dorian is the central aspect of his character. Whilst Wilde has retained the unrequited love between the Narcissus and Echo figures, the change in gender causes the development of the theme of homoeroticism throughout the novel. Wilde has developed this theme to exemplify the desirability of Dorian to both genders and also to reflect his own homosexuality. Basil’s devotion to Dorian is illustrated through his psychological dependence on him as
Whilst Wilde retains the theme of narcissism from the original myth, he extends the condemnation of an individual’s morality into a critique of the moral degradation of the entire upper Victorian class. The character of Lord Henry Wotton represents the upper strata of fin de siècle England with his values and attitudes indicative of those shared by the rest of upper society. Lord Henry’s narcissism is epitomised through his egoistic hedonistic world-view in which he believes all people, art and money as tools of his own pleasure, following Aristippus’s theory that pleasure is the highest good. The repetition of good in “I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects” characterises his narcissistic nature in which he believe he has the right to choose who is “worthy” to be in his association. Also the quote “He was pleased by it. It made him a more interesting study” by Lord Henry in accordance to Dorian demonstrates his lack of morality due to his narcissism. The use of the noun “study” accentuates Henry’s view of people as objects and the superficiality of his friendship with Dorian in which he …show more content…
Whilst Basil’s love for Dorian is a direct parallel to Echo’s love of Narcissus, his conscience and keen perception of human nature are indicative of Tiresias’s wisdom. This is seen in the introductory chapters with Basil’s warning of “don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad’. This foreshadows Dorian’s inevitable downfall and corruption demonstrating how Basil understands both the workings of Lord Henry’s mind and can see the consequences of his influence. Also his description as having an “intellectual expression” characterises his inner wisdom and as he is an artist, links intellectualism to aestheticism - a late Victorian England movement. This demonstrates how Wilde has adapted the character of Tiresias into an artist to exemplify the importance of aestheticism to both 19th century England and himself. However, while Basil is the wisdom figure throughout the novel, his deep infatuation with Dorian is the central aspect of his character. Whilst Wilde has retained the unrequited love between the Narcissus and Echo figures, the change in gender causes the development of the theme of homoeroticism throughout the novel. Wilde has developed this theme to exemplify the desirability of Dorian to both genders and also to reflect his own homosexuality. Basil’s devotion to Dorian is illustrated through his psychological dependence on him as