The idea of education through self-cultivation (Bildung) belongs to the era of modernity and of the self-realizing individual (Castle 665). The newly-formed individual returns from his journey as a master rhetorician, reconciling with his fractured self when he realizes his internalization of “fractured discourse in the world” (Castle 666). Wilde explores a world in which the protagonist reaches his ultimate goal effortlessly under the influence of others, effectively avoiding the arduous journey and discovery of self in a traditional bildungsroman. In the protagonist’ avoidance of obstacles and life without consequences, he fails to unify with the “fractured discourse in the world” and must take his life.
Just as a negative bildungsroman novel, …show more content…
Likewise, he lacks coherent ideas about the world around him or a decent set of morals and is, thus, fully unaware of his exceptional beauty and ability to manipulate others. His innocence and naivete pave way for his influenced deformation as he is readily impressionable and manipulated by the contrasting influences of Lord Henry and Basil. Paul Sheehan’s reading of Wilde’s TPDG attempts to pinpoint to instigating force in Dorian’s struggle to come to grips with his identity. He holds that ‘life is at best an energy” which mobilizes when the protagonist discovers expression through any form of arts or aesthetically accomplished ways (333). Dorian’s realization of his beauty on canvas evokes a fascination not with the arts, but with himself and his own beauty. Sheehan writes that through Dorian’s discovery of beauty, Wilde “straddles the two domains of” art and life where life can be “lived in aesthetic terms,” using a histrionic writing style and “theatricalization of experience” (334). In discovering his beauty, Dorian gradually attains an aesthetic and artistic lens of his life. Furthermore, he argues that Wilde’s dramatic rhetoric parallels the aesthetic ideology of bildungsroman novels. Although mostly straying from the domain of a traditional bildungsroman, Wilde maintains a similar writing style, making …show more content…
After watching Sibyl poor performance in play Romeo and Juliet, criticizes her cruelly and expresses the end to his affection for her, revealing the superficiality and fleeting nature of his love (Wilde 101). Upon arrival home, he discovers the first change in his portrait with a “touch of cruelty in the mouth” (Wilde 105). At first, this change in the portrait startles Dorian and encourages him reflect on his behavior towards Sibyl. Castle reconciles this scene with his characterization of women in bildungsroman novels. He argues that women have a presences that allows them to “succeed less in facilitating than in distancing” (681). As the women cease “to be instrumental to the modern hero,” he easily disposes of them in his journey of self-discovery (681). As a result, the protagonist’s despisal of women and ambiguous sexuality is borne out. Although Dorian’s wishes to change his lifestyle back to a more morally acceptable one, he remains motivated by his shallow desire to maintain the “portrait’s fairness” (Wilde 107). Thus, his consideration of a moral lifestyle is still ingenuine and shallow. Before freeing himself from Lord Henry’s influence, he learns of Sibyl’s suicide, encouraged to distance himself from the event with Lord Henry’s reassurance and even view it as “a marvelous experience”
Just as a negative bildungsroman novel, …show more content…
Likewise, he lacks coherent ideas about the world around him or a decent set of morals and is, thus, fully unaware of his exceptional beauty and ability to manipulate others. His innocence and naivete pave way for his influenced deformation as he is readily impressionable and manipulated by the contrasting influences of Lord Henry and Basil. Paul Sheehan’s reading of Wilde’s TPDG attempts to pinpoint to instigating force in Dorian’s struggle to come to grips with his identity. He holds that ‘life is at best an energy” which mobilizes when the protagonist discovers expression through any form of arts or aesthetically accomplished ways (333). Dorian’s realization of his beauty on canvas evokes a fascination not with the arts, but with himself and his own beauty. Sheehan writes that through Dorian’s discovery of beauty, Wilde “straddles the two domains of” art and life where life can be “lived in aesthetic terms,” using a histrionic writing style and “theatricalization of experience” (334). In discovering his beauty, Dorian gradually attains an aesthetic and artistic lens of his life. Furthermore, he argues that Wilde’s dramatic rhetoric parallels the aesthetic ideology of bildungsroman novels. Although mostly straying from the domain of a traditional bildungsroman, Wilde maintains a similar writing style, making …show more content…
After watching Sibyl poor performance in play Romeo and Juliet, criticizes her cruelly and expresses the end to his affection for her, revealing the superficiality and fleeting nature of his love (Wilde 101). Upon arrival home, he discovers the first change in his portrait with a “touch of cruelty in the mouth” (Wilde 105). At first, this change in the portrait startles Dorian and encourages him reflect on his behavior towards Sibyl. Castle reconciles this scene with his characterization of women in bildungsroman novels. He argues that women have a presences that allows them to “succeed less in facilitating than in distancing” (681). As the women cease “to be instrumental to the modern hero,” he easily disposes of them in his journey of self-discovery (681). As a result, the protagonist’s despisal of women and ambiguous sexuality is borne out. Although Dorian’s wishes to change his lifestyle back to a more morally acceptable one, he remains motivated by his shallow desire to maintain the “portrait’s fairness” (Wilde 107). Thus, his consideration of a moral lifestyle is still ingenuine and shallow. Before freeing himself from Lord Henry’s influence, he learns of Sibyl’s suicide, encouraged to distance himself from the event with Lord Henry’s reassurance and even view it as “a marvelous experience”