The picture of Dorian Gray: Critical views

Question 1

French literature

Answer 1

• Controversial french novels bound in yellow, promoting sexual and philisophical freedom
• Hedonism and decadence movements followed by Dorian represented

Question 2

Morality

Answer 2

Hough accuses him of importing inappropriate ‘social smartness’ into the ‘emotional and sensual intensity at which [he] is aiming in Dorian Gray

Question 3

Societal influence

Answer 3

• commenting that one should not expect such a ‘stupid and vulgar’ book from a man who had had the opportunity of associating with gentlemen’ - Karl Beckson

Question 4

Religious symbolism

Answer 4

• Lord henry appears as a Lucifer type figure, convincing and influencing Dorian to explore hedonistic pleasures (mirroring that of eve in the Garden of Eden) while Basil appears to be a highly moral being who actively tries to convince Dorian otherwise - Luca Dore

Question 5

Psychocanalytical

Answer 5

• Looking at the author and reasoning the book through them

- Purely analysing the book and reasoning through interactions etc