The Victorian Era, Oscar Wilde and The Picture of Dorian

Gray

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’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.

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 worked in

London during the mid 1800s

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.

Victorian Gentlemen Elite status, aristocratic, social

class Lived on inherited income and

did not work Debonair, “dandy”/ well-

groomed Sophisticated- calling cards,

tobacco pouches, high tea Inflicted harm on no one,

avoided slander and gossip Philosophical, well educated

Oscar Wilde Birth name: Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde Birth date: October 16, 1854 Ireland Mother was a poet/journalist Father was a doctor Mother wanted a girl Death date: November 30, 1900 Died penniless and alone of meningitis in Paris Married with two children

Style

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”!

Known For:

99

Famous Quotations "One should always be in love. That is why one should never marry."

“Arguments are to be avoided; they are always vulgar and often convincing.”

“I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects. A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.”

“ Don't be misled into the paths of virtue.”

“Women never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly.”

“There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating- people who know absolutely everything and people that know absolutely nothing.”

Dorian Gray Wilde’s first and only novel. Written over 100 years ago (1891) Opened to much criticism Ultimately, was very successful So many current 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.

Brief Synopsis The story of three friends: Basil, Lord Henry,

and Dorian Gray The soul is a blank canvas Basil-angel Lord Henry- Devil Dorian Gray- a clean slate Id, ego, superego Semi-autobiographical

Major Theme: Hedonism: The

devotion to pleasure as a way of life; one’s sole priority is to seek pleasure/happiness without regard for others.

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.

www.allpsych.com

“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”

-Mark Twain