In the tradition of aesthetics, Oscar Wilde said, “There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book” to what extent is ‘The picture of Dorian Gray’ an immoral book?
In the tradition of aesthetics, Oscar Wilde said, "There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book" to what extent is 'The picture of Dorian Gray' an immoral book?
Oscar Wilde believed that art was only for one reason "Art for art sake", he once said, "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written, that is it". Oscar has contradicted himself here because whilst he has tried to create a beautiful book, for no reason other than beauty he has created a piece of art full of moral and immoral actions. Oscar Wilde was influenced by the works of an English poet and critic, Algernon Charles Swinburne in much the same way that Dorian Grey was influenced by Lord Henry Wotton.
In "The picture of Dorian Grey" Dorian's character is always in dramatic change. This is generally because of the influence of Lord Henry. "You are too charming to go in for philanthropy....."Lord Henry knows Dorian will soon be aware of his own beauty. Lord Henry influences his motives, making him become something that Lord Henry wants him to be.
Dorian is made to think that beauty is the most important thing in the world, by Lord Henry; because of these influences Dorian's character becomes immoral. This is reflected thus can be seen when he sells his soul for his beauty, he wishes to stay beautiful. Dorian's character is also reflecting immorality. The way that the character acts reflects on the way the novel is judged. If the characters in the novel are immoral it makes the book look immoral.
Oscar stated "there was no such thing as a moral or immoral book" and whilst trying to prove this he has wrote a book with the characters behaviour showing us morality and immorality.
The preface was written by Widle after the novel was published. In it he explains that he wrote the novel for the sake of writing a beautiful novel. He explains his opinions on aesthetics, "art for arts sake.....". There I think it implies he did not mean to write an immoral book. "Books are well written or badly written that is all...".
Lord Henry Wottons main concern is not to live by morals, and thinks every one else should feel the same as him, "beautiful". "But then in church they don't think" Lord Henry doesn't care about religion or churches because they are not beautiful, but in the time this novel was published people were very religious.
When Lord Henry was at Basil Hallwards we again see his immorality when smoking drugs. "From his heavy opium tainted cigarette....". This was never seen as a moral action, but he doesn't care about other people's opinions. However irony is shown when Lord Henry "plucked a pink petal daisy from the grass". A pink petald daisy would be beautiful, but he is destroying it, if he cared so much about beauty he wouldn't be destroying it, Dorian is seen as a man of beauty this implies that Lord Henry would destroy Dorian.
Oscar Wilde believed that art was only for one reason "Art for art sake", he once said, "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written, that is it". Oscar has contradicted himself here because whilst he has tried to create a beautiful book, for no reason other than beauty he has created a piece of art full of moral and immoral actions. Oscar Wilde was influenced by the works of an English poet and critic, Algernon Charles Swinburne in much the same way that Dorian Grey was influenced by Lord Henry Wotton.
In "The picture of Dorian Grey" Dorian's character is always in dramatic change. This is generally because of the influence of Lord Henry. "You are too charming to go in for philanthropy....."Lord Henry knows Dorian will soon be aware of his own beauty. Lord Henry influences his motives, making him become something that Lord Henry wants him to be.
Dorian is made to think that beauty is the most important thing in the world, by Lord Henry; because of these influences Dorian's character becomes immoral. This is reflected thus can be seen when he sells his soul for his beauty, he wishes to stay beautiful. Dorian's character is also reflecting immorality. The way that the character acts reflects on the way the novel is judged. If the characters in the novel are immoral it makes the book look immoral.
Oscar stated "there was no such thing as a moral or immoral book" and whilst trying to prove this he has wrote a book with the characters behaviour showing us morality and immorality.
The preface was written by Widle after the novel was published. In it he explains that he wrote the novel for the sake of writing a beautiful novel. He explains his opinions on aesthetics, "art for arts sake.....". There I think it implies he did not mean to write an immoral book. "Books are well written or badly written that is all...".
Lord Henry Wottons main concern is not to live by morals, and thinks every one else should feel the same as him, "beautiful". "But then in church they don't think" Lord Henry doesn't care about religion or churches because they are not beautiful, but in the time this novel was published people were very religious.
When Lord Henry was at Basil Hallwards we again see his immorality when smoking drugs. "From his heavy opium tainted cigarette....". This was never seen as a moral action, but he doesn't care about other people's opinions. However irony is shown when Lord Henry "plucked a pink petal daisy from the grass". A pink petald daisy would be beautiful, but he is destroying it, if he cared so much about beauty he wouldn't be destroying it, Dorian is seen as a man of beauty this implies that Lord Henry would destroy Dorian.
