1. When a Picture paints a thousand words
The Victorian Era, Oscar Wilde, and The Picture of Dorian Gray

2. The Victorian Era Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901
Victoria inherited the throne at age 18
Married her mother’s nephew, Albert
Bore him 9 children
Victoria and Albert ruled in the midst of the potato famine of 1845, in which they continued to permit the export of grain and cattle from Ireland to England while over a million Irish peasants starved to death.
Victoria’s obsessive mourning (10 years) influenced what would become the Victorian mentality
Her influence was so great that both a political era and a literary epoch was named after her.

3. Contrasts An age of great conflicts
Although Christianity also reigned, this was the first time that institutional Christianity was truly called into question
Darwin, Marx, and Freud emerged during this time
“Prudish”, “Prim and proper”, “repressed” and “old fashioned” are often used to describe this era
Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens
Regarded artists as society’s conscience
Jack the Ripper; some 8,000 prostitutes were “employed” in London during the mid 1800s

4. Time of Progress and Prosperity
Great strides in science and technology
Rapid growth of the middle class
Middle class valued: hard work, strict morality, and pragmatism (practicality over idealism)
Victoria and Albert fostered moral earnestness and strait laced propriety
Distinct social classes. Middle and lower classes could never attain the wealth, luxury, and privilege of the upper class.

5. Victorian Gentlemen Elite status, aristocratic, social class
Debonair, “dandy”/metrosexual, well-groomed
Sophisticated- calling cards, tobacco pouches, high tea
Inflicted harm on no one, avoided slander and gossip
Philosophical, well educated
Recognized by virtue of their occupation

6. Oscar Wilde Birth name: Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde
Birth date: October 16, Ireland
Mother was a poet/journalist
Father was an acclaimed doctor
Mother wanted a girl
Married Constance Lloyd, a wealthy Englishwoman, and had two sons
Established himself as a leading proponent of the Aesthetic Movement

7. The Aesthetic Movement
A theory of art and literature that emphasized the pursuit of beauty for its own sake, rather than to promote any political or social viewpoint.
Aesthetic movement decor was similar to the corresponding writing style of the time in that it was about sensuality and nature.

8. Wilde’s Other Relationship
In 1891, the same year that the 2nd edition of Dorian Gray was published, Wilde began a homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, an aspiring but rather untalented poet. The affair caused a good deal of scandal, and Douglas’s father eventually criticized it publicly.
On February 18, 1895, Douglas’s father, the Marquis of Queensberry, had gotten wind of the affair and left a note at Wilde’s home. The note addressed Wilde as a “Posing Somdomite”, a misspelling of sodomite. This outraged Wilde, who sued him for libel.
Queensberry presented evidence of Wilde’s homosexuality, which resulted in the dismissal of Wilde’s libel case and his arrest on charges of “gross indecency.”

9. Life in Prison
In 1895, Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor, during which time he wrote a long, heartbreaking letter to Lord Alfred titled De Profundis (Latin for “Out of the Depths”).
“...I wanted to eat of the fruit of all the trees in the garden of the world... And so, indeed, I went out, and so I lived. My only mistake was that I confined myself so exclusively to the trees of what seemed to me the sun-lit side of the garden, and shunned the other side for its shadow and its gloom.”

10. Life After Prison
After his release, Wilde left England and divided his time between France and Italy, living in poverty. He never published under his own name again, but, in 1898, he did publish, under a pseudonym, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a lengthy poem about a prisoner’s feelings toward another prisoner about to be executed.
Since the death of his wife in 1898, he had been denied access to his two sons and given £150 a year from her estate to live on.
Wilde died of meningitis in Paris on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46. having converted to Roman Catholicism on his deathbed.

11. Wilde’s Style Sharp wit Outrageous and eccentric clothing
Known For:
Sharp wit
Outrageous and eccentric clothing
Irreverent attitude
Aphorisms/epigrams: A concise expression often satirical with an ingenious turn of thought; sage; witty
Cynicism: faultfinding; contemptuous; distrustful view of society
Flamboyant lifestyle
Loved to “stir the pot”!

12. The Picture of Dorian Gray
Wilde’s first and only novel. Written over 100 years ago (1891)
Critics were outraged by the book’s
apparent lack of morality.
Ultimately, it was very successful.
Considered a Gothic novel
Depiction of the Faustian Legend

13. Gothic Novel Elements Typical motifs and characters:
Uncanny environments such as castles, dungeons, prisons, cemeteries, secret rooms...
The supernatural
Monsters
Doppelgangers
Magic Objects
Femme fatales
Demons
Walking skeletons
The devil
Witches and witchcraft
Science used for a bad purpose

14. The Preface Answers critics who charged the novel with being immoral
Sets forth the basis of his philosophy of art.
Art possesses an intrinsic value that is beautiful and worthy, and thus needs to serve no other purpose.
Also cautioned readers against finding meanings “beneath the surface” of art.

15. Major Characters in the Novel
Dorian Gray -  A radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young gentleman, whose portrait the artist Basil Hallward paints. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian becomes extremely concerned with the transience of his beauty and begins to pursue his own pleasure above all else. He devotes himself to having as many experiences as possible, whether moral or immoral, elegant or sordid.

16. Major Characters
Lord Henry Wotton -  A nobleman and a close friend of Basil Hallward. Urbane and witty, Lord Henry is perpetually armed and ready with well-phrased epigrams criticizing the moralism and hypocrisy of Victorian society. His pleasure-seeking philosophy of “new Hedonism,” which espouses garnering experiences that stimulate the senses without regard for conventional morality, plays a vital role in Dorian’s development.

17. Other Major Characters
Basil Hallward -  An artist, and a friend of Lord Henry. Basil becomes obsessed with Dorian after meeting him at a party. He claims that Dorian possesses a beauty so rare that it has helped him realize a new kind of art; through Dorian, he finds “the lines of a fresh school.” Dorian also helps Basil realize his artistic potential, as the portrait of Dorian that Basil paints proves to be his masterpiece.
Sibyl Vane -  A poor, beautiful, and talented actress with whom Dorian falls in love. Sibyl’s love for Dorian compromises her ability to act, as her experience of true love in life makes her realize the falseness of affecting emotions onstage.

18. Key Concepts Behind the Novel
The soul is a blank canvas
Id, ego, superego
Semi-autobiographical

19. Id, Ego, Superego
Freud believed that the id is based on our pleasure principle.  In other words, the id wants whatever feels good at the time, with no consideration for the reality of the situation.
The ego is based on the reality principle.  The ego understands that other people have needs and desires and that sometimes being impulsive or selfish can hurt us in the long run
The Superego is the moral part of us and develops due to the moral and ethical restraints placed on us by our caregivers.  Many equate the superego with the conscience as it dictates our belief of right and wrong.

20. Themes Sin and redemption Hedonism Love and marriage Friendship
Youth and beauty
Gossip
Influence/manipulation
Art (then- paintings, opera; now- films, music, etc.)
Based on revelations about evil in humanity, pleasures of evil and destructiveness of evil.

21. Major Theme: Hedonism Derives from Greek word for “delight”
Argues pleasure is the only intrinsic good, even if it harms others
Minimize pain, maximize pleasure
Related to egoism, which argues that humans are motivated by self interest alone
In chapters 3-5, pay close attention to Lord Henry’s influence on Dorian.

22. Hedonism Handbook Top Hedonism Mantras
Live and Let Live
Carpe Diem
You Can’t Take it With You
You Only Live Once
Just Do It
Never Say Never
Look Out for Number One

23. The Perils of Structured Living (according to Hedonists)
You will be unpopular at parties
You will become hardened and bitter
You will age prematurely
You will experience greater stress
You will spend your life struggling
You will feel cheated
You will feel left out
You have serious regrets in the end
You will not be happy

24. Journal:
In one to two paragraphs, answer the following: Discuss the positive and negative aspects of the hedonistic way of life in both personal and public spheres. How might this be an appealing way to live? How might this way of thinking be exemplified in the arts (Hollywood, actors, singers, models, comedians, as well as, sculptors, painters, etc.)? How does society/media perpetuate this idea? Do you believe our society is more hedonistic than others? Why or Why not?