Analysis of Oscar Wilde´s The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray The difference between art and life is quite simple, art is created and imagined by an artist and life is a representation of the living and the actuality of experiencing situations. Conversely, in the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde demonstrates how the main characters mistake art for life, and life for art. Through The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde reveals the proper perspective for life and art, art has the ability to stand alone in society without sharing a mutual relationship with life. However, if art and life do share a conjoined relationship conflicts are more likely to arise, as portrayed in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde expresses that the artist himself can mistake art for life while being under the influence that his artwork is a reflection of his soul. Basil Hallward is under this impression as he refuses to exhibit Dorian Gray’s portrait despite Lord Henry Wotton’s forcefulness. He claims that the portrait of Dorian Gray does not reveal Dorian, but in fact reveals himself and all the feelings that reside within him. He is willing to sacrifice the success of his most beautiful piece of work because he is under the impression that if he were to display his artwork in an exhibition, everyone would see right through to the depth of his soul. However, this reveals that Basil is not a true aesthetic because he is painting his confessions into the painting, he is putting in his feelings for Dorian Gray. This showsShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis Of Oscar Wilde s Work Essay1786 Words   |  8 PagesLiterary Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s work. Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic. He is viewed as one of the best dramatists of the Victorian Era. Besides literary accomplishments, he is also famous, or perhaps infamous, for his intelligence, showiness, and affairs with men. 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