The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, is one of the most amusing and entertaining books to read and just because of the amount of wit and intelligence that can be found in it. Every conversation is a contest on who can make the wittiest comment, though usually won by Lord Henry Wotton. Lord Henry is a master in the art of conversation and uses epigrams to convey his intelligence. Though wit and intelligence play a large role in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wit and intelligence is shown in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Lord Henry’s interest in psychology, the use of epigrams, and Oscar Wilde’s interest in sciences. One of the most influential characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray is Lord Henry because of the way he talks and his ability
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Lord Henry attempts to comfort Dorian by making the comment, “If you had married this girl, who would have been wretched.” (Wilde 112). This is another example of Lord Henry using his marriage experience to make a witty and intelligent comment. Lord Henry comments that the marriage would have been awful which begins to show how Lord Henry is against marriage. One of the main ways that wit and intelligence are shown in The Picture of Dorian Gray are by a literary device called an epigram. An epigram is witty comment or statement made or a witty response. The character that uses epigrams the most is Lord
Henry. Throughout The Picture of Dorian Gray Lord Henry always seems to have an epigram ready to use in any scenario. The two times the Lord Henry uses epigrams the most are during a dinner party at his aunt’s house and during his conversations with Dorian. Lord Henry is at a dinner party at his aunt’s house and is with Dorian. Lord Henry is purposely trying to embarrass Dorian so he uses epigrams and makes very inappropriate yet witty comments. One example of a witty comment that Lord Henry makes is, “I can sympathize with everything except suffering.” (Wilde 45). This quote by Lord Henry is an example of an epigram. This quote is an epigram because it was a witty response to a comment that someone made at the dinner …show more content…
A possible reason for all of the intellect in The Picture of Dorian Gray could have been Oscar Wilde’s interest in the sciences. The Victorian era was a time when the sciences were becoming very important. Because of this, Oscar Wilde became very interested in the sciences, specifically evolution and psychology. That is the reason why there are a lot of psychological ideas in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wit and intelligence is plays a large part in The Picture of Dorian Gray. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, wit and intelligence are shown by Lord Henry, Lord Henry’s use of epigrams and Oscar Wilde’s interest in psychology. Wit and intelligence make Lord Henry able to influence Dorian to change his lifestyle but they also make the book more enjoyable. Every time Lord Henry uses an epigram, it gives the book some form of comic relief and makes it easier to
Lord Henry attempts to comfort Dorian by making the comment, “If you had married this girl, who would have been wretched.” (Wilde 112). This is another example of Lord Henry using his marriage experience to make a witty and intelligent comment. Lord Henry comments that the marriage would have been awful which begins to show how Lord Henry is against marriage. One of the main ways that wit and intelligence are shown in The Picture of Dorian Gray are by a literary device called an epigram. An epigram is witty comment or statement made or a witty response. The character that uses epigrams the most is Lord
Henry. Throughout The Picture of Dorian Gray Lord Henry always seems to have an epigram ready to use in any scenario. The two times the Lord Henry uses epigrams the most are during a dinner party at his aunt’s house and during his conversations with Dorian. Lord Henry is at a dinner party at his aunt’s house and is with Dorian. Lord Henry is purposely trying to embarrass Dorian so he uses epigrams and makes very inappropriate yet witty comments. One example of a witty comment that Lord Henry makes is, “I can sympathize with everything except suffering.” (Wilde 45). This quote by Lord Henry is an example of an epigram. This quote is an epigram because it was a witty response to a comment that someone made at the dinner …show more content…
A possible reason for all of the intellect in The Picture of Dorian Gray could have been Oscar Wilde’s interest in the sciences. The Victorian era was a time when the sciences were becoming very important. Because of this, Oscar Wilde became very interested in the sciences, specifically evolution and psychology. That is the reason why there are a lot of psychological ideas in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wit and intelligence is plays a large part in The Picture of Dorian Gray. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, wit and intelligence are shown by Lord Henry, Lord Henry’s use of epigrams and Oscar Wilde’s interest in psychology. Wit and intelligence make Lord Henry able to influence Dorian to change his lifestyle but they also make the book more enjoyable. Every time Lord Henry uses an epigram, it gives the book some form of comic relief and makes it easier to