The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gr

The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian GrayMuch of the criticism regarding The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde has dealt with Dorian Grays relation to his own portrait (Raby 392). opus some may argue that the portrait represents a reflection of Dorian Grays character, this is only a superficial analysis of the allegory and Dorians character. While Dorian Grays lawful character never changes, it is his own perception of his character (his conscience) that is reflected in the changing face of his portrait. In essence Dorians picture becomes a mirror through which the true Dorian judges his own metamorphasis as the superficial nobleman total heat Dorian attempts to embrace Lord Henrys teachings. Dorians duality of character causes a unremitting internal struggle within him, ultimately culminating in his own suicide. Initially, Lord Henrys doctrine of new Hedonism contrasts sharply with Dorians youthful innocence and passions. These initial feeli ngs are the readers prototypic and clearest experience with the soon to be repressed true Dorian. The terminology, however, does not predicate that Dorian has never been influenced before. This unblemished character simply represents Dorians self at the start of the sweet, a state which he accepts as his own and is able to find peace in. From this first conversation, Dorians peace begins shatter when he learns of Lord Henrys doctrine and its implications for his own life. Dorian is described as a brainless, beautiful savage (3), appropriate since all Dorian has at this stage in the novel is his own initial, untainted feelings. Thus this pre-Henry stage is the only time in the novel at which Dorian expresses his true self outwardly. This brai... ...he Picture of Dorian Gray A Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Lawler, Donald L. (1988). 405-412. Raby, Peter. Oscar Wilde. (1980) 164. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit Gale, 1991. 392-397. Spivey, Ted R. Oscar Wilde and the Tragedy of Symbolism. The tour Beyond Tragedy. (1980) 57-71. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit Gale, 1991. 501-502. Summers, Claude J. In Such Surrender thither May Be Gain Oscar Wilde and the Beginnings of Gay Fiction. Gay Fictions Wilde to Stonewall, Studies in a Male Homosexual Literary Tradition. (1990) 29-61. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit Gale, 1991. 398-401. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray Oxford Worlds Classics. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1998.