Analysis of British Literature
British literature refers to any form of literature that bears the British identity, and that was written by authors within the regions of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Island, Channel Islands, Isle of Man. British literature is unique because it is characterized by unique language that has been influenced by various cultures ranging from Anglo-Saxons and Christianity from the early establishment of the English language and the evolution of the language through multiple periods. In turn, these changes have played key roles in influencing British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 20th century. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde is an exceptional example of British Literature, particularly that captures The Victorians Era. This essay will analyze “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and discuss how it exemplifies the characteristics of British literature.
Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is a masterpiece that captures the issue of hedonism and how it can lead to one’s downfall. One of the things that make this literary exceptional is the way it manages to represent the end of century literature that explores the darkest recess of the Victorian era and the dark desires that were prevalent in a society obsessed with luxury and status. Besides, Oscar Wilde, in his only novel, explored the relationship between art and reality, which highlighted the fickle interplay between aesthetics and ethics. Though the book discussed the prevalent issues in Victorian society, its relevance is still evident today, particularly on the battle that exists in the human nature of self against social morality. Oscar Wilde, of Irish decency, captured all these issues through well-curated characters, and particularly between the relationship between Dorian Gray and Lord Henry.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray,” published in 1891, demonstrates British literature’s characteristics mainly in its themes. One of the main themes of the book is the superficial nature of society. One of the characteristics of British literature is the need to discuss the general issues affecting society. The Victorian era was marked by industrialization that threatened the central role of morality in society. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” through the theme of superficial nature of society discusses how people were shifting from what was regarded as morality and embracing hedonism. The character Lord Henry mentions that one should always be searching for new sensations advocating for hedonistic pursuit in life (30). The other characteristic of British literature evident in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is the fact that the author identified with the British identity. Oscar Wilde was Irish, and this influenced the language that he used in writing “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” marked by the Victorian era English language. The book has advanced diction, and that is geared towards an educated audience. For example, the author writes, “Tears came to his eyes as he remembered her childlike look and winsome fanciful ways and shy tremulous grace” (99). The wording of such sentences represents an elite community that grew during the industrialization period and used language to identify their class.
Therefore, a close analysis of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” reveals the relationship between the piece of literature and the period in which it was written and its identification as a type of British literature. The novel explains the social and cultural changes occurring in the Victorian period, particularly in the realms of morality and status. In conclusion, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is an excellent literature that embraces the culture of the period it was written to which it belongs.