Oscar Hammerstein II

desires and forbidden pleasures of gothic novels are at the center of The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Turn of the Screw. The novels explore the relationship between the corrupted and the corruptor. The gothic novels The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James share the idea of corruption, but in different ways; The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of moral corruption and extreme narcissism while The Turn of the Screw tells of corruption of…

In Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein and Dorian Gray both want to achieve beauty. Frankenstein wants to create beauty in the form of another creature. Dorian wants to maintain his beauty, like in his portrait. It seems that both Victor and Dorian show us their view on the importance of beauty through their monsters, but it seems to show us two different consequences that occur for the pursuit of beauty. A theme that seems to run through both novels is obsession.…

The Picture of Dorian Gray Writing Assignment 1. Analysis of an Important Character Lord Henry Wotton plays a major role in the development of Dorian Gray’s character. Even before the two main characters’ first meeting, Lord Henry is already known for having a “very bad influence over all of his friends...”, in the words of Basil Hallward (pg 19). Lord Henry opens a door to a new, dark world for Dorian, causing him to become obsessed with youthfulness and appearance. Dorian becomes enchanted…

The Monster Within When one hears the word “monster,” the stereotypical horror, the hair-raising cliché is often pictured. While the commonplace image is found to an extent in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Oscar Wilde defies the custom in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Both novels, however, stress that it is not one’s outward appearance that makes a monster, it is the lack of responsibility for their actions that creates a monstrosity, whether it be a man or beast. The authors emphasize…

death to embracing it. Dorian kills, watches the people he cares for die, and eventually comes face to face with is own death. All of these changes in Dorian’s life are due to his deteriorating soul and corrupt morals. In the Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde accompanies Dorian with death to advocate the importance of selflessness. Dorian’s sense of his mortality leads him towards the downfall of his personality. In the beginning of the book, Dorian has a strong sense for his eventual death.…

Taking place in England during the 1890s, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde tells the tragic story of a young and beautiful man named Dorian Gray. Artist Basil Hallward becomes infatuated with Dorian and his beauty after capturing a glimpse of him at a party. Basil invites Dorian over to paint a portrait of him, but Dorian is soon swept under the influence of Basil 's friend, Lord Henry Wotton. He tells Dorian that beauty and youth are the essence of humans ' existence, and because of…

Literary Criticism Seen with the Theme Society and Class Society and class is a constant theme seen in many different works of literature. It also can be depicted in many different ways. The literature can show the harsh realities of living in society, expectations of society, values of society as a whole, how one tries to change their path in society, the superficial nature of society, etc. In the masses of literature we read, we see characters that are shaped by society and also characters…

“The artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is art’s aim” (Wilde 1). However, on occasion art begins beautiful and then alters negatively. This is the case in both Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and Percival Everett’s Erasure. Although the stories within each are very different in nature, they are interconnected in the way that the work of art within each alters and changes. Plato stated in Phaedrus, “writing has one grave fault in common with…

In the novel, The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde, Wilde criticizes many aspects of the Victorian lifestyle. The constant criticism in the comedy is present through constant witty remarks and absurdity throughout the play. One aspect of the Victorian lifestyle that Wilde refers to frequently is writing and writers. Wilde conveys the message by using diaries and three volume novels frequently throughout the play that those individuals have dreams and secrets that they find dear to them,…

The Alter Ego of Jack Worthing “The Importance of Being Earnest (also called A Trivial Comedy for Serious People)” is a play written by Oscar Wilde in the late 1890's. Although it is comedy, it is also a social satire and it has some serious themes hidden in its lines. The themes here address Victorian social issues. In in the late 19th century, in the Victorian society, the life was not very easy. People were divided in social classes and there was a strict code of morals which people from…