Question

Is Dorian Gray a critique or endorsement on the aesthetic hedonism movement?

Answer 1

Even though the author of Dorian Gray preached aestheticism as the ultimate goal of arts, his work does not converge to that conclusion.

Oscar Wilde, along with other artists belonging to the movement, claimed to believe art is done for art's sake. That, behind books, pictures and music, there shouldn't be a deeper meaning, a lesson to be taught and learned, any political positioning to defend or attack. Art was, thus, only supposed to be beautiful.

However, Wilde's character Dorian finds himself sinking in life for his lack of moral. Concerned only about his own youth and beauty, Dorian is incapable of loving and connecting to another human being. Consequently, everyone around him suffers and he becomes a dark and lonely soul, whose sins and real age are apparent in a picture of him painted by a friend.

Answer 2

The picture of Dorian Gray is an endorsement of the aesthetic hedonism movement. Because Aestheticism represents the commitment to any type of moral values ​​as long as it represents art and aesthetics. Basically, the work of The picture of Dorian Gray uses Hedonism with aesthetic purposes. Now, Hedonism's priority is joy above anything else, the movement proposes to reach maximal pleasure to enjoy life. In this case, Aestheticism is used with Hedonism, using a twisted sense of moral values ​​in order to achieve its aesthetic purpose.