Reading this week "The Artist as a Tragic Hero in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray" was a bit slow for me. Not due to the work in general, but because I much prefer the weeks where we're discussing the actual novel, rather than the literary analysis. Henry Allen made a lot of references to other dramas/plays/works that mostly I haven’t read, so I did get lost in those areas a few times. I did, however, really enjoy reading so much in depth on the character of Basil Hallward. While reading the novel, I found Basil to be my favorite character and was heartbroken when I learned his fate. Henry Allen offered a lot of insight to this character that interested me.
It was obvious from the text that Basil was completely in love with Dorian and it think it was this never-ending plight of his to save his ‘beloved’ from moral doom that endears him to me. He seemed to be the only voice of reason, and the one who ultimately suffered the most.
I was in agreement with Allen's theory that Oscar Wilde put a lot of his own character into that of Basil Hallward. It's easy to make connections between the two men- both being ‘artists’ in a sense, plagued by desires that they weren’t allowed to have, or “love that dare not speak its name”.
I was intrigued by Wilde’s son Vyvyan Holland’s words at the end of Allen’s work, where he was quoted,
“the tragedy of Oscar Wilde ranks with most other great historical tragedies, which are mainly brought about by the stupidity of pompous and self important people”
And also,
“The worst aspects of Victorian hypocrisy have now disappeared, and today my father would not have been hounded to his death as he was fifty years ago. The self-righteousness of that age was really camouflage to disguise its own hypocrisy, and the people who were loudest in their condemnation of my father were often those whose own lives could least bear investigation. Nothing makes the transgressor so indignant as the transgressions, of a different kind, of his fellow-men; except, perhaps transgressions of the same kind.”
I thought these comments were very powerful, considering the time period when they were given. Granted it was fifty years later, but I still feel like he maybe was being too optimistic when he said “today my father would not have been hounded to his death as he was fifty years ago”. I say this because I honestly don’t feel like that much progress has been made even now towards better acceptance of different lifestyles. The implications he’s suggesting about men judging men will never be abolished. There will never be universal acceptance because there will always be a ‘social norm’ that people will be expected to follow. In the time of Oscar Wilde, his flamboyant lifestyle (although he was married) was not tolerated and ultimately triggered his downfall. While he might not be persecuted so literally in modern times, he would still not be free from judgment.
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I loved your post this week! You made a lot of great points and wrote everything in such a clear and precise manner. I agree with everything you had to say, you were just able to say it much more pretty than I could. I think part of that is because my brain is completely shutting down and I need spring break asap. But anyways, I also liked Basil Hallward’s character and I to believe that he was infatuated with Dorian Gray. It’s clear in various parts of the novel. Basil is so affected by the rumors that he hears about Dorian and he is completely distraught by the fact that they might be true. It’s almost as if he is jealous of the relationship that Lord Henry and Dorian share. Dorian is always taking Lord Henry’s advice but rarely does he take Basil’s. He won’t even let Basil see his own painting!
ReplyDeleteI also like Allen’s theory that Oscar Wilde put a lot of himself into the character of Basil Hallward. It’s funny it’s almost like a hidden message. Look back at the beginning of the novel when Basil is talking about how he doesn’t want to send the portrait of Dorian Gray anywhere. It says, “You would do anything in the world to gain a reputation. But as soon as you have one, you want to throw it away. A portrait like this could make you famous,” he added hoping to impress his friend. “I know you will laugh at me, Harry, but I can’t. I have put too much of MYSELF in it,” Basil said” (10). This could be a direct clue that Oscar is hinting that he is putting a lot of himself into the character of Basil. Maybe just a coincidence but interesting to think about. Thanks for your thoughts!
Joy to the World,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you , reading and discussing the book is far more interesting than reading the literary criticisms. They very rarely are as interesting as the original story. I however did enjoy your blog this week.
Now by no means was Basil my favorite character in the story but I can defiantely see how he can draw the reader in. Now you and Nicole both pointed out how it seemed that Oscar Wilde put so much of himself into the character of Basil, including their artistic nature and (as Nicole referenced) putting too much of 'himself' into his work.
However the part of your writing that caught my attention the most had to be the end. Then again I also wrote quite a bit about Vyvyan Holland in my blog as well. When you pointed out that " There will never be universal acceptance because there will always be a ‘social norm’ that people will be expected to follow. In the time of Oscar Wilde, his flamboyant lifestyle (although he was married) was not tolerated and ultimately triggered his downfall. While he might not be persecuted so literally in modern times, he would still not be free from judgment," it made me realize that no matter how much we strive to be better and to accept people there will always be things that cause people to dislike others. I just wish that it wasn't something that developed into full blown hate.
WS
Joy to the World,
ReplyDeleteI found many of your comments very interesting. I have to say that I agree with you in that I too find that I often enjoy the weeks we discuss the novels directly more than the critiques. I think that this is because I really like drawing my own conclusions and I usually find out I was wrong or misguided in my ideas after reading a critique. As you mentioned, I too was not very familiar with a lot of the works being cited in this article and therefore found the reading of it to be a bit tedious. Plus I thought it was almost like a reiteration of what a lot of other people said. But again, what do I know??
I loved that you stated, “While reading the novel, I found Basil to be my favorite character and was heartbroken when I learned his fate. Henry Allen offered a lot of insight to this character that interested me.” I too found Basil to be my favorite and kept hoping that Dorian would come to his senses and get his life back on track. I couldn’t stand Lord Henry and some of his “rants” made me so annoyed I didn’t want to read the rest of the book. Particularly his comments about women, “I am afraid women appreciate cruelty, downright cruelty, more than anything else. They have wonderfully primitive instincts. We have emancipated them, but they remain slaves looking for their masters, all the same” (Wilde 88). Now I know this is just a fictitious novel, but boy did those comments and honestly the whole section on Sibyl Vain’s death by Lord Henry get me fired up.
And finally, as sad as it is, I have to agree with you about the fact that even today, Wilde would not be free of judgment in our society. And I’m not sure we will ever really get there because I think it is human nature to judge others. However, it could get a lot better if people at least just accepted that despite their judgments everyone has the right to try to be happy.