The Conscience of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gr

The Conscience of Dorian white-haired(a) in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian GrayMuch of the criticism regarding The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde has dealt with Dorian Grays relation to his own portrait (Raby 392). While some may argue that the portrait represents a reflection of Dorian Grays character, this is only a superficial analysis of the novel and Dorians character. While Dorian Grays consecutive character never changes, it is his own perception of his character (his conscience) that is reflected in the changing face of his portrait. In essence Dorians picture becomes a mirror through which the true Dorian judges his own metamorphasis as the superficial Lord Henry Dorian attempts to embrace Lord Henrys teachings. Dorians duality of character causes a constant internal struggle within him, ultimately culminating in his own suicide. Initially, Lord Henrys doctrine of new Hedonism contrasts astutely with Dorians youthful innocence and passions. These initial feel ings are the readers first and clearest experience with the soon to be repressed true Dorian. The terminology, however, does not imply that Dorian has never been influenced before. This unblemished character simply represents Dorians self at the start of the novel, a state which he accepts as his own and is able to find peace in. From this first conversation, Dorians peace begins shatter when he learns of Lord Henrys philosophy and its implications for his own life. Dorian is described as a brainless, beautiful creature (3), appropriate since all Dorian has at this stage in the novel is his own initial, unvarnished feelings. Thus this pre-Henry stage is the only time in the novel at which Dorian expresses his true self outwardly. This brai... ...he Picture of Dorian Gray A Norton critical Edition. Ed. Lawler, Donald L. (1988). 405-412. Raby, Peter. Oscar Wilde. (1980) 164. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit Gale, 1991. 392-397. Spiv ey, Ted R. Oscar Wilde and the Tragedy of Symbolism. The Journey Beyond Tragedy. (1980) 57-71. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit Gale, 1991. 501-502. Summers, Claude J. In Such Surrender There May Be Gain Oscar Wilde and the Beginnings of festive Fiction. Gay Fictions Wilde to Stonewall, Studies in a Male Homosexual Literary Tradition. (1990) 29-61. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. DiMauro, Laurie. Vol. 41. Detroit Gale, 1991. 398-401. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray Oxford Worlds Classics. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1998.