“Art never expresses anything but itself. This is the
principle of my new aesthetics.” Wilde
As I was reading “The Picture
of Dorian Gray” I became curious to know more about the aesthetic philosophy
and the literary movement that was in effect in late nineteenth-century Britain. I found
many interesting articles that showed me the direct influence that aestheticism
had on Oscar Wilde. With the influence of his poetry and plays, Wilde was known
to be “a major spokesman for the Aesthetic Movement”.
The term “aestheticism” derives from Greek, meaning “perceiving
through senses” A doctrine which holds
aesthetics or beauty as the highest ideal or most basic standard. According to the Aesthetic
Movement, art justifies its own existence by expressing and embodying beauty. Aestheticism
was in complete opposition to the prevailing Victorian mentality, with its
emphasis on hard work, moral earnestness, and material success, aestheticism on the other hand emphasized the fleeting nature of life and argued that the most important thing
was to relish the exquisite sensations life brings, especially those stimulated
by a work of art. The aim was to be fully present and to live vividly in each
passing moment. (Anderson )
In the novel Dorian Gray a young, innocent, beautiful boy is
introduced and corrupted by Lord Henry Wotton’s introduction of the principles
of hedonism and aestheticism. His corruption starts with the extreme admiration
of Basil and fuel is set to the fire by Lord Henry who tells young Dorian Gray
that “youth is the only thing worth having” and that ”Beauty is a form of
Genius- is higher, indeed than Genius, as it needs no explanation” basically
saying that when beauty and youth go, by natural age, he will discover that
there will be nothing left for him. This put immense fear into Dorian, which
caused him to make the wish of him staying always young and the painting to
age.
His search for pleasure and obsession with esthetics ruined
his soul and some of the lives that he encountered.
That is helpful background on the Aesthetic movement, Anja.
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