Context (Grade 12 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
Context
Understanding the historical and cultural context of The Picture of Dorian Gray helps us appreciate why Oscar Wilde's novel was so controversial when it was published in 1890. The book reflects several important movements and social issues of late Victorian Britain.
Homosexuality and Victorian society
Legal and social background
Legal Consequences in Victorian Britain
Homosexual activity faced severe legal consequences in Victorian Britain. Until 1861, it was actually punishable by death - a shocking reminder of how differently society viewed sexual identity. Even after this changed, homosexual acts between men remained illegal and could result in prison sentences well into the 20th century.
This harsh legal framework created an atmosphere of secrecy and fear around same-sex relationships, which profoundly influenced how writers like Wilde approached these themes in literature.
Implicit themes in the novel
While Wilde never explicitly depicts homosexual relationships in The Picture of Dorian Gray, the novel contains clear homoeroticism and suggested same-sex attraction. The relationships between the male characters - particularly Dorian, Lord Henry, and Basil - contain undertones that contemporary readers would have recognised.
Key evidence includes:
- Basil's intense devotion to Dorian, which goes far beyond normal friendship
- The way Basil "reports going pale" when he first meets Dorian
- Lord Henry's fascination with corrupting the young man
- The atmosphere of possessiveness amongst the three men
- References to Dorian's effect on other young men
In Chapter 12, Wilde comes closest to making these themes explicit when Basil confronts Dorian about rumours: "Why is your friendship so fatal to young men?" The text mentions "stories that [he has] been seen creeping at dawn out of dreadful houses and slinking in disguise into the foulest dens in London."
Historical context and Wilde's life
The Cleveland Street Affair
The novel's publication coincided with the Cleveland Street Affair, a real scandal involving English aristocrats frequenting a male brothel. This made the book's themes even more controversial for contemporary readers, as it seemed to reflect current events.
Wilde's own life deeply influenced the novel. He was involved in what Victorian society called an "unseemly relationship" with the younger poet Lord Alfred Douglas. This personal experience gave authenticity to the novel's exploration of forbidden desires and social hypocrisy.
Fantastic literature elements
Wilde masterfully blended realistic Victorian society with supernatural and fantastical elements, creating a unique literary work that defies simple categorisation.
Fairy tale components
The Picture of Dorian Gray contains clear fairy tale elements that give it a magical quality:
- Dorian's wish that inexplicably gains magical power
- The painting that ages while Dorian remains young
- Sibyl calling Dorian "Prince Charming"
- The way Wilde "stylises and simplifies reality"
Wilde had previously published The Happy Prince and Other Tales in 1888, demonstrating his skill with fairy tale writing. This experience influenced how he approached the supernatural elements in Dorian Gray.
Gothic literature traditions
The novel draws heavily on Gothic literature, which explored the dark side of human nature and emotion. Where Romanticism celebrated emotion and passion, Gothic literature warned of their dangers and excesses.
Key Gothic Elements in the Novel
- The doubled self (Dorian and his portrait)
- Forbidden knowledge and its consequences
- Intense, dangerous passions
- Life-threatening hidden secrets
- The sense that past sins will inevitably catch up with the protagonist
By Wilde's time, Gothic literature was already a mature tradition. Authors like Robert Louis Stevenson had adapted Gothic techniques for philosophical exploration, just as Wilde does in examining aestheticism and morality.
Science fiction traces
Though the weakest fantastic element in the novel, there are hints of science fiction in:
- Basil's interest in "methods of natural science" (Chapter 4)
- Dorian's quest for a scientific explanation of how the painting changes (Chapters 7 and 8)
These elements suggest Wilde was interested in contemporary scientific developments and their potential implications.
The aesthetic movement
Historical background
The 19th century was dominated by practical concerns: urbanisation, industrialisation, and an emphasis on wealth and function. The growing middle class valued art that served useful social purposes or carried moral messages.
In reaction to this practical focus, the Aesthetic Movement emerged in the mid-century. This movement embraced the motto popularised by French poet Théophile Gautier: "Art for art's sake."'
Core philosophy
The Revolutionary Philosophy
Aesthetes believed that beauty was sufficient in itself - art didn't need to serve any other purpose beyond being beautiful. This was revolutionary thinking that challenged Victorian assumptions about art's social function.
Wilde was heavily influenced by art critic Walter Pater, who helped shape the movement in Britain. Wilde knew Pater personally, even travelling with his book on the Renaissance and memorising sections of it.
Application in the novel
Wilde brilliantly incorporates and critiques aesthetic philosophy within The Picture of Dorian Gray. Lord Henry Wotton serves as the novel's main spokesperson for aesthetic ideas, spending considerable time explaining his philosophy of beauty and leisure.
Lord Henry's Aesthetic Philosophy
In Chapter 2, Lord Henry delivers a crucial speech in Basil's garden that transforms Dorian's worldview. He argues that:
"Beauty is a form of genius—is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It of the great facts of the world, like sunlight."
This represents pure aesthetic thinking - beauty needs no justification beyond itself.
The philosophy's consequences
However, Wilde doesn't simply celebrate aestheticism. The novel shows the dangerous consequences of living purely for beauty and pleasure. Lord Henry places great importance on "keeping up appearances and engaging in leisurely pursuits," but this philosophy ultimately leads to Dorian's moral corruption and the ruin of many lives.
Through this narrative, Wilde demonstrates both the appeal and the potential dangers of aesthetic philosophy, creating a complex exploration of art, beauty, and moral responsibility.
Key Points to Remember:
- Victorian homosexuality laws created a climate of secrecy that influences the novel's subtle treatment of same-sex attraction
- Fantastic literature elements (fairy tale, Gothic, science fiction) blend with realism to create the novel's unique atmosphere
- The Aesthetic Movement's "art for art's sake" philosophy is both celebrated and critiqued through Lord Henry's character
- Wilde's personal experiences with forbidden relationships and aesthetic philosophy directly influenced the novel's themes
- Historical context helps explain why the novel was considered scandalous and immoral by Victorian reviewers