Shakespeare
Mid Sweden University Department of Humanities English Studies
The Evil in Dorian Gray: A Psychoanalytic Study of the Protagonist in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Rosanna Eklund
English C / Special Project Tutor: Joakim Wrethed 2007-02-14
Table of Contents
Introduction Previous Research The Victorian Era and Aestheticism About the Author The Psychoanalytic Theory Dorian Gray and the Conscience Dorian Gray and Consciousness Dorian Gray and the Unconscious Dorian Gray’s Path to Degradation The First Cruel Act The Cruelty Continues The Evil in Dorian Gray Redeeming Qualities Conclusion Works Cited
1 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 11 13 15 16 18 20
1
Introduction
“The telling of beautiful untrue things, is the proper aim of Art” (Oscar Wilde). Oscar Wilde is as famous for his wit and legendary quotes as he is for his texts. In his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde explores the practical reality of a hedonistic, pleasure-seeking lifestyle without boundaries. During the 1890s, Oscar Wilde was one of the leaders of the so called aesthetic movement in England. In his novel he puts this theory into practice. His attempt makes up an interesting study of aestheticism and decadence, the Late Victorian Era, and of Oscar Wilde himself. In this essay, however, this novel and its protagonist will be analysed from a psychoanalytic perspective with emphasis on Freud’s theories of the psyche. Freud’s psychoanalytic theories deal with the three-part psyche (Barry 97). He claims that the human mind contains the ego, the super-ego and the id; three parts that struggle to catch our attention. Lacan, similarly, acknowledges a struggle in the mind between seeking pleasure and doing good (Lacan 23). The character of Dorian Gray may be used as a prime example to explain the Freudian concepts of the ego, the super-ego and the id (Barry 97). In The Picture of Dorian Gray, we can follow the degradation of what at first appears to be a healthy psyche. During the course of
The Evil in Dorian Gray: A Psychoanalytic Study of the Protagonist in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Rosanna Eklund
English C / Special Project Tutor: Joakim Wrethed 2007-02-14
Table of Contents
Introduction Previous Research The Victorian Era and Aestheticism About the Author The Psychoanalytic Theory Dorian Gray and the Conscience Dorian Gray and Consciousness Dorian Gray and the Unconscious Dorian Gray’s Path to Degradation The First Cruel Act The Cruelty Continues The Evil in Dorian Gray Redeeming Qualities Conclusion Works Cited
1 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 11 13 15 16 18 20
1
Introduction
“The telling of beautiful untrue things, is the proper aim of Art” (Oscar Wilde). Oscar Wilde is as famous for his wit and legendary quotes as he is for his texts. In his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde explores the practical reality of a hedonistic, pleasure-seeking lifestyle without boundaries. During the 1890s, Oscar Wilde was one of the leaders of the so called aesthetic movement in England. In his novel he puts this theory into practice. His attempt makes up an interesting study of aestheticism and decadence, the Late Victorian Era, and of Oscar Wilde himself. In this essay, however, this novel and its protagonist will be analysed from a psychoanalytic perspective with emphasis on Freud’s theories of the psyche. Freud’s psychoanalytic theories deal with the three-part psyche (Barry 97). He claims that the human mind contains the ego, the super-ego and the id; three parts that struggle to catch our attention. Lacan, similarly, acknowledges a struggle in the mind between seeking pleasure and doing good (Lacan 23). The character of Dorian Gray may be used as a prime example to explain the Freudian concepts of the ego, the super-ego and the id (Barry 97). In The Picture of Dorian Gray, we can follow the degradation of what at first appears to be a healthy psyche. During the course of
Cited: Primary Source: Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Penguin Books Ltd, 1994. Secondary Sources. Printed Material: Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory – an Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000. “Conscience.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 1993. “Consciousness.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 1993. Ellman, Richard. Oscar Wilde. New York: Random House, Inc, 1988. Lacan, Jacques. Psykoanalysens Etik. Trans. Zagorka Zivkovic and Jurgen Reeder. Borås: Centraltryckeriet, 2000. “Psychoanalysis.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 1993. Sanders, Andrew. The Short Oxford History of English Literature. Oxford: University Press, 3rd edition, 2004. “Unconscious” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 1993 Secondary sources. Online Material: Allingham, Philip V. Oscar Fingal O 'Flaherty Wilde (1854-1900). Victorian Web http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/wilde/pva94.html. 12-01-2007. Douthat, Ross and Hopson, David. SparkNote on The Picture of Dorian Gray. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/doriangray/. 20-12-2006. Landow, George P. Aesthetes and Decadents of the 1890s – Points of Departure. The Victorian Web. http://www.victorianweb.org/decadence/decadence.html. 05-01-2007. Siegel, Dr Kristi. “Psychoanalytic Criticism.” Introduction to Modern Literary Theory. http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm#psycho. 28-11-2006. Wikipedia. Aestheticism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetic_movement. 05-012007. Wikipedia. Oscar Wilde. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde. 05-01-2007. Wikipedia. Psychoanalysis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoanalysis. 10-01-2007. 21 Wikipedia. Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoanalytic_literary_criticism. 17-11-2006. Wikipedia. Victorian Era. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Era. 05-01-2007.