THE DEMONIZATION OF DORIAN GRAY: AESTHETICISM, MORAL DECLINE, AND THE DUALITY OF HUMAN NATURE IN VICTORIAN LITERATURE
Keywords:
demonization, Dorian Gray, aestheticism, moral decline, duality, Gothic literature, Victorian society, hedonism, identity, symbolismAbstract
This article analyzes the process of demonization in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, focusing on the relationship between aestheticism, moral decline, and human duality. It examines how Dorian Gray’s transformation reflects the consequences of unchecked hedonism and the rejection of ethical values. Special attention is given to the symbolic role of the portrait as a representation of inner corruption and psychological conflict. The study argues that demonization functions as a complex expression of the tension between aesthetic ideals and moral responsibility.
References
Oscar Wilde. (2003). The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Penguin Books.
Wilde, O. (1891). Intentions. London: James R. Osgood.
Pater, W. (1873). Studies in the History of the Renaissance. London: Macmillan.
Abrams, M. H. (1971). The Mirror and the Lamp: Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Eagleton, T. (2008). Literary Theory: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.
Bloom, H. (1994). The Western Canon. New York: Harcourt Brace.
Mary Shelley. (2003). Frankenstein. London: Penguin Classics.
Nassaar, C. S. (1965). Into the Demon Universe: A Literary Exploration of Oscar Wilde. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Carroll, J. (2004). Literary Darwinism: Evolution, Human Nature, and Literature. New York: Routledge.
D’Ammassa, D. (2005). Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Horror Fiction. New York: Facts on File.
Frye, N. (1957). Anatomy of Criticism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Hegel, G. W. F. (1975). Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
