Oscar Wilde’s Description of Immorality

Oscar Wilde’s Description of Immorality

            Oscar Wilde’s book “The picture of Dorian Gray” is structured in a way to depict decency, even though it is not seen in the entire book. The subject of indecency is eminent by characters like Dorian, Basil, and Lord Henry, amongst others. The novel is posed to uncover, challenge, and comment on what transpired during a particular time. Also, the book delineates how every Immorality committed by Dorian is linked to the picture. Oscar tries to show how the picture is affecting Dorian’s life. Sibyl’s death is the book paints the aestheticism. Lord Henry cynicism shows how death is cruel when Sibyl dies.

Once Dorian and Sibyl’s relationship dies, a wicked life takes shape. Dorian’s physical appearance remains unchanged, despite the problems he is facing, however, his portrait changes afterwards. Lord Henry alleges, “Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man’s face” (Wilde 149). He starts thinking that people might start fearing him based on the portrait that paints him as a sinful person. Conversely, at first, the painting symbolizes how Dorian and Basil were innocent, while Lord Henry becomes self-conscious. The painting shows how basil was part of idolatry, yet he felt ashamed of it because he preferred secrecy. In this situation, Dorian supports the credence that “youth is without sin” to unravel his innocence Dorian and exhibit Henry’s Immorality.

Additionally, Dorian makes himself appealing using his looks when he complements Sibyl once they meet. Dorian’s covetousness for vanity haunts him because it is the origin of his sins. His corrupter, Lord Henry, influences his decision making. In this case, the author shows how cherishing beauty is deceiving. When he notices she is not the best actress, Dorian tries to snob her. He goes to the extent of despising her because she does not match his desires. Dorian is not perturbed by sibyl choice to commit suicide. He says, “You do not know the danger I am in, and there is nothing to keep me straight. She would have done that for me…” (Wilde 102). Dorian perceives himself as a saint without sins, yet he is a selfish and immoral person. He deceived Sybil with fantasy love to enjoy her acting, hence he did not love her of who she was.

Furthermore, in the story, Lord Henry says, “Sibyl had swallowed something by mistake, some dreadful thing they use at theatres” (Wilde 101). This statement shows that acting might have caused her death because people are more concerned about their careers, other than their lives. This Immorality of Sibyl killing herself-foreshadows another suicide case of Dorian Gray. Lord Henry envied the life of Dorian even though he never acted like him. He wanted to keep his reputation alleging that words would not cause any harm, unlike actions. Lord Henry’s scornful words to comfort Dorian shows how people are untrue to others and themselves. He says, “One should absorb the color of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar” (Wilde 103). Lord Henry picks sides when he expresses a dislike of women to change Dorian’s judgment towards her woman. The homoerotic relationship between the two shows how they did not care about death. It is immoral to say that there are people who must live a dramatic life, enjoy it, and then they can die a worthy death.

Moreover, the novel expresses the existence of shallow and sincere people. Deep individuals can differentiate reality and fake things, whereas shallow people reckon the existence of real and bogus things, but choose not to act according to what is expected of them. Dorian is quick to dismiss his affection with Sibyl because he thinks that should not affect him. The statement “an hour later he was at the Opera, and Lord Henry was leaving over his chair” (Wilde 108) represents Dorian shallowness and how quickly he forgot his lover.

Oscar Wilde’s book mostly features dialogue to express his thoughts, and one would be moved by his emotions and his choice of words. Like there are rules and commandments, which differentiate right and wrong, there are people who act immorally. The author paints characters that do not use civilization to behave right and actualize a common goal for everyone because they are selfish. Also, the author wants readers to reckon that art can lose its importance when artists overlook morality and practice hedonism. Pleasure seeking persons are indeed immoral because they lose the value of humanity. Wilde also labels drug abuse and sex as sins that destroy the essence of youth.

In conclusion, despite the author identifying conscience in Dorian, he illustrates how people are incomplete and vulnerable to be influenced by negative thinking and act immorally. Lord Henry influences Dorian and sways him to Immorality. Also, despite Dorian’s conscience, his impressionable nature allows evil to grow inside him. The environment around him makes him forget about his lover quickly. The author, therefore, is posed to expose, challenge, and comment on what transpired during that particular time.

Works Cited

Wilde, O. “The Picture of Dorian Gray. 1891.” The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde 3       (2003): 165-357.