The Picture Of Dorian Gray Literary Analysis

There are many different ways to interpret the word monster and what it means for man to be monstrous. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley exemplify this idea through the protagonists in their books. Although each book has its own interpretation on what it means to be a monster, they both demonstrate how immoral behavior and societal views contribute to man being monstrous.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde demonstrates how immoral behavior and obsession with physical appearance can influence man to be monstrous. When one thinks of actual monsters in society they think of immorality, lack of compassion, and lack of remorse. Dorian Gray exhibits these qualities when he begins to believe “beauty conquers all”. This thought along with his obsession with eternal youth and beauty obstruct his true values and morals he once had. As time goes
This interpretation of the book connects Wilde’s personal life and Dorian’s life, in that Wilde was accused of committing acts of indecency with other men. The community around him believed this because of the type of books that he was writing, also the way critics interpreted his writing, labeling it to be immoral further influenced these negative thoughts toward Wilde . “The Daily Chronicle of London called the tale "unclean," "poisonous," and "heavy with the mephitic odours of moral and spiritual putrefaction." (Ross 1). He was made out to be some kind of monster because of these accusations and interpretations of his writing, this knowledge of Wilde’s personal history prompts the reader to believe that he created Dorian to be a monster to portray what society was making him out to