Do You Agree or Disagree with Some Contemporary Critic's Claims That 'the Picture of Dorian Gray' Is an Immoral Book?

The Picture of Dorian Gray received harsh disapproval upon its initial publication in 1890, with many critics declaring it an im incorrupt script. The hedonistic life philosophy depicted by its admirer is undoubtedly an lowly one, as Dorian Grays happiness takes priority over the lives of Sibyl Vane, Basil H tout ensembleward and countless others. peradventure the most significant problem people had with the unfermented was with its portrayal of homosexuality, a life-style which would have been condemned at the time and which resulted in Oscar Wildes imprisonment in 1895. He may well have included this in an attempt to justify his lifestyle; however it was heavily criticised by Victorian society. One anger critic described The Picture of Dorian Gray as a poisonous playscript, the atmosphere of which is heavy with the mephitic odours of moral and spiritual putrefaction.

After harsh criticism of the novel in Lippincotts magazine Wilde decided to include a preface to an amended version of the text upon its republication. This comprises a series of epigrams expressing Wildes own aesthetic philosophy, aiming to discard the idea that all art should serve a moral purpose. This can be viewed as an attempt to prevent further offense be caused by aspects of the novel.



However in order to evaluate whether it is an meanspirited story we must first consider whether it is consistent in this view that art need not have a purpose. The portrait itself acts as the most magical of mirrors, revealing to Dorian the destructive effects of iniquitousity upon his soul. Furthermore the yellow book that Lord Henry gives to Dorian becomes a symbol of the consequences of immoral art; Dorian bases his life and actions around it and its influence leads to the depravity of his soul and ultimately his death. To critics this may well suggest the verso of Wildes preface, the yellow book emphasises the powerful influence of immoral art, as both major works of art atomic number 18 crucial to the novel and deliver powerful...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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