DORIAN GRAY AND THE NARCISSISTIC TRAGEDY: A STUDY OF VANITY AND SELF-DESTRUCTION
DORIAN GRAY AND THE NARCISSISTIC TRAGEDY: A STUDY OF VANITY AND SELF-DESTRUCTION

Summary/Abstract: This current paper is motivated by the attempt to explore the critique of aestheticism in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, focusing on the protagonist’s obsession with beauty and its tragic consequences. Through Dorian's pursuit of external perfection, Wilde critiques the aesthetic movement, which shows beauty as the ultimate ideal while disregarding moral and ethical responsibility. The novel reveals the dangers of this philosophy, highlighting how an obsession with beauty can lead to self-destruction, as exemplified by Dorian’s relationship with his portrait. The portrait serves as a symbol of Dorian's soul, reflecting the degradation of his character while his physical form remains unchanged. Critics, including Josephine M. Guy and Richard Ellmann, emphasize how Wilde uses Dorian's duality to expose the limitations of an ideal that privileges beauty over morality. The essay argues that Wilde’s portrayal of Dorian’s downfall offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity and self-love, echoing the myth of Narcissus. Ultimately, the novel critiques a society that values external appearance over the moral integrity of the self, demonstrating that beauty, divorced from ethical considerations, leads to moral decay and personal ruin. Through this, Wilde presents a modern reinterpretation of the Narcissus myth, warning against the destructive nature of vanity.

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