Reading Journal #3: The Controversy of "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

At first glance, Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" may appear to be a work that initially sparked the controversy between aestheticism and morality. After all, the novel embodies the spirit of aestheticism while at the same time, constantly pits aesthetic beliefs against the moral values of the Victorian era. When the novel was first released, it was harshly rebuked by critics for being ‘foul’ in nature and was condemned a ‘fallen work.’ Many readers were outraged when aestheticism prevailed over moral values and eventually destroyed Dorian Gray. Among the outspoken diatribes was a review by the Scots Observer, which stated “It (the novel) is false art for its interest is medico-legal; it is false to human nature—for its hero is a devil; it is false to morality—for it is not made ...sufficiently clear that the writer does not prefer a course of unnatural iniquity to a life of cleanliness, health and sanity.” However, according to Oscar Wilde, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” can hardly be considered an ‘immoral’ book. Oscar Wilde had no intention of persuading the readers that any particular belief was more valid than the other. He was not emphasizing his belief that aestheticism was superior to morality, nor did he implicate any sort of moral lesson. The conflict between aestheticism and Victorian moral values only exist to make the novel more ‘beautiful.’ In his letter rebutting the Scots Observer, he stated “If a work of art is rich and vital and complete, those who have artistic instincts will see its beauty, and those to whom ethics appeal more strongly than aesthetics will see its moral lesson. It will fill the cowardly with terror, and the unclean will see in it their own shame. It will be to each man what he is himself. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.” Here, in this letter, Oscar Wilde makes it clear that the importance of beauty and morality in art is very subjective to each individual. Therefore, it is perhaps more accurate to assume that Oscar Wilde had no actual intention while writing this novel to bring to light the prevalence of art’s beauty over morality as shown in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Rather, he simply brought up the conflict to create a fascinating plot and to present the novel in an artful manner, suitable to meet his standards of aesthetcism. In this sense, The Picture of Dorian Gray is not meant to be a book that brings up controversy—it is a book that uses a controversial issue to strengthen a clever plot.