Abernathy 1
Raina Abernathy
Instructor’s Name
Course Name
Date
The Corruption of the Soul in The Picture of Dorian Gray
[Preliminary] Thesis: The dangers of aestheticism and the corrupting effects of vanity along
with moral decay guide Dorian Gray toward his final descent in The Picture of Dorian Gray by
Oscar Wilde.
I. Introduction
Through The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde examines the downfall from both art-loving
and irresponsible moral behavior which existed in Victorian society. Through its narrative Dorian
Gray presents a character who secures eternal youth by means of a supernatural alteration that
turns his portrait evil yet leaves him untransformed. Lord Henry Wotton guides Dorian into self-
indulgent activity which then leads him to both psychological and ethical degeneration. The
portrait displays both the effects of Dorian Gray's transgressions since it provides visible proof of
his moral conscience. The decline of Dorian Gray demonstrates to readers how anyone in pursuit
of nothing but pleasure and beauty faces terminal destruction. This research analyzes the
aesthetic concept and portrait symbolism together with the detrimental effects of Dorian’s
decisions using several scholarly references to validate its argumentation.
Abernathy 2
II. The Influence of Aestheticism and Lord Henry Wotton
A. The philosophy of aestheticism in Victorian society
1. The principles of aestheticism—"art for art’s sake" (Pater, The Renaissance, 1873)
2. Wilde’s own views on aestheticism and its paradoxes (Ellmann, Oscar Wilde,
1988)
B. Through his influence Lord Henry made Dorian develop into a corrupted state.
1. His manipulation of Dorian’s innocence and ideals (Bristow, Effeminate England,
1995)
2. The impact of The Yellow Book and its reinforcement of hedonistic ideals
(Nordau, Degeneration, 1892)
C. Dorian’s initial transformation
1. His wish for eternal youth as a Faustian bargain (Mighall, A Geography of
Victorian Gothic Fiction, 1999)
2. The first signs of moral detachment—Sibyl Vane’s fate
III. The Portrait as a Reflection of Moral Decay
A. The supernatural element of the portrait
1. The Faustian nature of Dorian’s wish (Ledger and Luckhurst, The Fin de Siècle: A
Reader in Cultural History, 2000)
2. The portrait as a manifestation of conscience (Paglia, Sexual Personae, 1990)
B. Dorian’s increasing corruption
1. His indulgence in vice and secrecy (Miller, Versions of Pygmalion, 2002)
2. The portrait becomes more disturbing to Dorian as he continues to accumulate more
immoral acts
Abernathy 3
C. The portrait’s role in Dorian’s downfall
1. Sinfield highlights in The Wilde Century (1994) how Dorian attempted to conceal his
moral transgressions.
2. The final confrontation and destruction of both the painting and himself
IV. Consequences of a Life Without Morality
A. Dorian’s impact on those around him
1. The destruction of Sibyl Vane (Schmidgall, The Stranger Wilde, 1994)
2. The downfall of Basil Hallward and James Vane’s pursuit of justice
B. Dorian undergoes suffering silently even though he remains physically attractive to
others.
1. His internal torment and paranoia (Kiberd, Inventing Ireland, 1995)
2. The contrast between his eternal youth and the grotesque transformation of the
portrait
C. The ultimate message of the novel
1. Wilde’s critique of the dangers of unchecked hedonism (Beckson, Oscar Wilde: The
Critical Heritage, 1970)
2. A person who dedicates their entire existence to pleasure must endure significant
moral implications
V. Conclusion
Oscar Wilde illustrates aestheticism and moral corruption as dangerous aspects through his novel
The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian follows Lord Henry's guidance to achieve pleasure
continuously until his portrait reveals his succumbing to moral destruction. Dorian's last attempt
Abernathy 4
at guilt elimination causes his death which demonstrates that aesthetic beauty without genuine
virtue becomes worthless. Through its narrative Wilde warns readers about the destructive effects
of vanity as well as the catastrophic outcomes that result when people live without morals and
their pleasure-seeking excesses reach their limits
Abernathy 5
Works Cited
Beckson, K. E. (2005). Oscar Wilde: the critical heritage (No. 18907). Routledge.
Bristow, J. (1995). Effeminate England: homoerotic writing after 1885. (No Title).
Ellmann, R. (1988). Oscar Wilde: Pulitzer Prize Winner. Vintage.
Ledger, S. (2000). The Fin de Siecle: A Reader in Cultural History c. 1880-1900. Oxford UP.
Mighall, R. (2003). A geography of Victorian Gothic fiction: mapping history's nightmares.
Oxford University Press, USA.
Nordau, Max. Degeneration. Heinemann, 1892.
Paglia, C. (1990). Sexual Personae: Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson. Yale
UP.
Sinfield, A. (1994). The Wilde Century: effeminacy, Oscar Wilde, and the queer moment.
Columbia University Press.
