How Does Wilde’s Presentation of Duplicity in ‘the Picture of Dorian Gray’ Influence Your Interpretation of the Novel?

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How does Wilde’s presentation of duplicity in ‘The picture of Dorian Gray’ influence your interpretation of the novel? Wilde’s key themes of aestheticism and reputation are used to present duplicity throughout ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. Through his characters both beauty and youth are portrayed as opponents of ugliness and age especially through Wilde’s protagonist Dorian, a character who’s portrait soul bears aesthetic qualities in common with corruption, qualities which are in stark contrast to those of Dorian’s appearance which is more in common with purity. Not only do the characters share dual personalities but also the settings in which Wilde creates London gives a perception of elite and contrastingly derelict areas within. Effectively, Dorian Gray’s separation between his good looks and evil conscience congealed within his portrait demonstrates the battle of good and evil within himself. Basils painting symbolises Dorian’ s narcissistic conscience, which ages becoming more displeasing with “loathsome red dew that gleamed, wet and glistening…the canvas had sweated blood”. Wilde’s use of personification on blood sweating in this quotation highlights the portrait having its own emotion and also the guilt in which Dorian feels as he spirals further and further into the world of corruption. Although Dorian embraces his immutable youth and charm while the portrait becomes more ugly, Wilde shows duality by showing the effect Dorian’s corrupted soul in the portrait has on him physically presenting the ideology that both the painting and his physical attributes are still at one rather than individual characters. Dorian’s deceptive nature as he tries to hide the portrait shows the double life most typical Victorians possessed, appearing good and proper among others while keeping their sinful nature kept behind closed doors. Wilde uses this typical Victorian

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