Allie Specht

Ms. Wilson

AP English

January 31, 2014

Prompt: 1987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader’s or audience’s views. Avoid plot summary.

AP Open Question Essay

        Oscar Wilde’s ideas did not always align with those of most people during the Victorian Era. In his book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, there is often discussion between his characters, and especially monologues by Lord Henry, that are centered around views that differ greatly from the customs at the time. He also ventures in his plays, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Ideal Husband, to make fun of the business-like views possessed by most people at this time concerning marriage. For the purposes of his plays, Wilde uses satire, and sarcasm to show his distaste with the image-centered marriages at the current time. In his novel he often uses comparisons and makes great use of dialogue to showcase his ideas.

        In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde often makes reference to science and the observation of the human species. One of his main characters, Lord Henry, is very interested in a young man named Dorian Gray, and for Lord Henry he was, “a more interesting study”(47), as Lord Henry wanted to investigate, “ human life - that appeared to him the one thing worth investigating”(47). Often times characters in the book go back to science when faced with a peculiar occurrence, as does Dorian when he suspects a painting of himself has changed., “he found himself at first gazing at the portrait with a feeling of almost scientific interest”(77). Wilde often brings his characters back to these ideas of scientific logic and reason to explain the world. Through this Wilde is advocating for a more logical approach to society.  

        In his book, Wilde also looks at the differences between art and life, as well as the differences between good art and bad art. In reference to an actress that has caught Dorian’s eye, Lord Henry states, “ I love acting. It is so much more real than life”(65). Normal life was so much of an act itself, this act of perfection they had to always put on, that acting in a play became more showing of a person’s true self. Beauty in life was much harder to achieve than it was in any form of art, but that was still what many people strived for. Lord Henry earlier states that, “good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are”(47). According to Wilde, truly beautiful art could only be achieved if the artist gave up their self to it. During a time where there was often “art for art’s sake”, Wilde believed true beauty should be strived for in art. As a main proponent of the aesthetic movement Wilde believed the purpose of art was to be beautiful and pleasing to one’s eye, but not much else. Art was the place for true beauty to be shown, and Wilde believed this should be a main component of art in society at the time.

In his plays he focuses more on questioning the loveless nature of marriages at the time through wit and humor. In The Importance of Being Earnest the two main characters both at one point take on a name that is not truly theirs; Ernest. They both propose to women and find out that the reason the women are so willing to marry them is simply because they think they are named Ernest. One of the main characters, Jack is going to marry Gwendolen, and as he confesses his love she states, “my ideal has always been to love someone of the name of Ernest”(19). Even as the men realize what the true nature of the women’s ‘love’ is they are quick to try and change their names to keep up the perfect image. It is all in all a humorous situation through which Wilde is poking fun at how love at these times could hang on so little as a name. He further pokes fun at the perfect image needed in marriage in An Ideal Husband. The main characters, the Chilterns, have on the outside what looks to be a perfect marriage, fueled mostly by the need Lady Chiltern has for a perfect image. It turns out that her husband is not so perfect though, as in the play he is blackmailed for a crime he had committed years before. Through an interesting chain of events and more scores of witty dialogue, Wilde again pokes fun at the fact the important part of a marriage seems to be the holistic image of it, not the love.

Through wit and humor in his plays, and comparisons in his novel, Wilde is able to portray his ideology in concerns to society. The frivolous nature of society was all fine to him, but he poked fun at the lack of love that was then involved in marriages. He also looked to give his view of art; something that should be beautiful, and nothing more.