Style (Grade 12 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
Style
Understanding Wilde's writing approach
Style describes how an author tells their story and the specific language choices they make. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde employs sophisticated language that mirrors the educated speech patterns of the British upper classes during the Victorian era.
Characters like Dorian were well-educated and familiar with classical languages such as French, Latin, and Greek, which influenced their refined manner of speaking. This educational background was typical of the Victorian upper classes and directly shaped their communication style.
Diction and word choice
Wilde's diction (his selection of words) serves as a crucial element of his writing style, revealing significant details about his characters and their world. The author deliberately chooses flowery and elaborate vocabulary to highlight Dorian's luxurious lifestyle and social position.
Worked Example: Analysing Wilde's Word Choice
Consider this description: "... reclining in a luxurious arm-chair, in the little library of Lord Henry's house in Mayfair."
Breaking down the underlined words reveals important character insights:
- Reclining - suggests a relaxed, leisurely posture rather than formal sitting, indicating Dorian's unhurried lifestyle
- Luxurious - emphasises the expensive, comfortable nature of the furniture, reflecting surrounding wealth
- Library - demonstrates intellectual sophistication and the financial means to collect many books
- Lord - establishes Henry's aristocratic status and inherited privilege
- Mayfair - references a prestigious London neighbourhood, implying multiple property ownership
This careful word selection shows that Dorian enjoys a comfortable, wealthy existence without the need to work, moving freely between his London residence in Grosvenor Square and his countryside home in Selby Royal.
Gothic imagery and atmosphere
Wilde incorporates Gothic imagery to build suspense and create an atmosphere of expectation, significantly enhancing the novel's dramatic impact. This technique becomes particularly evident during darker scenes, such as Basil's murder.
The author describes Dorian as "wrapped in heavy furs, as the night (is) cold and foggy" when meeting Basil at the "midnight train" to Paris. Later, in a melodramatic moment, Dorian declares: "I shall show you my soul!"
These atmospheric descriptions contribute to the novel's sense of mystery and foreboding, preparing readers for the supernatural and sinister elements of the story.
Epigram and paradoxical speech
Lord Henry's distinctive speaking style demonstrates Wilde's use of epigram - a form of paradoxical or seemingly contradictory expression. Henry speaks in witty, clever-sounding phrases that initially appear humourous and intelligent. However, closer examination reveals these statements often contain shocking and morally questionable ideas.
Example: Epigrammatic Speech Analysis
Henry frequently makes statements that sound profound but carry dangerous implications:
"What nonsense people talk about happy marriages! A man can be happy with any woman, as long as he does not love her."
This comment exemplifies Henry's cynical worldview disguised as sophisticated wisdom. His ideas are often poisonous and highly immoral, though he presents them in an entertaining, non-confrontational manner.
Social response to Henry's epigrams
Interestingly, other characters rarely challenge Henry's controversial statements because he delivers them so charmingly. When Lady Ruxton does respond to his cynicism, she does so playfully: "Ah! What a cynic you are ... You are really an admirable tonic ..."
This light-hearted response demonstrates how Henry's eloquent presentation allows his dangerous ideas to go unchallenged, maintaining pleasant social interactions while spreading moral corruption. This is a crucial element of how dangerous influence can spread through society.
Style as character revelation
Wilde's sophisticated language choices serve multiple purposes beyond mere description. The elevated diction reveals character backgrounds, social positions, and moral standings. Through careful word selection, readers understand the wealth, education, and privilege that surround the main characters, while also recognising the moral emptiness that often accompanies such luxury.
The contrast between beautiful language and corrupt ideas reflects one of the novel's central themes - the dangerous relationship between aesthetic beauty and moral decay.
Key Points to Remember:
- Style encompasses both storytelling method and language choice - Wilde uses sophisticated vocabulary to reflect his characters' upper-class backgrounds
- Diction reveals character details - Word choices like "luxurious," "reclining," and "Lord" establish wealth, leisure, and social status
- Gothic imagery creates atmosphere - Dark, mysterious descriptions build suspense and prepare readers for supernatural elements
- Epigram disguises dangerous ideas - Lord Henry's witty, paradoxical statements sound clever but contain morally corrupt messages
- Sophisticated language can mask moral emptiness - Beautiful words and refined speech don't guarantee good character or sound values