Michael Patrick Gillespie

While I have appreciated some of the Twayne's Masterwork Studies series, this work is not among them. It gave me little useful insight into Oscar Wilde's famous novel, despite the fact that I read them at about the same time. The author argues that one must be open to multiple interpretations of Dorian Gray -- that it is a multi faceted work which one would interpret according to one's own values and experiences. He repeats this argument in every chapter. However, he doesn't do much to explain the various possible interpretations one might give to this work.

Gillespie notes that the most basic theme of the novel is the struggle between good and evil; another is that it delineates differences between social groups. As for the various alternative interpretations, one (if I understand it) is that Dorian Gray's behavior can be immoral by one standard, but following an aesthetic ideal by another. Despite his stand towards multiple interpretations, the author cautions against "interpretive anarchy", and especially eschews the attempt by some to ennoble Wilde as "a spokesman for gay activism, and his novel as a manifesto for alternative living."

I appreciated the author's description of "The Dandy", the persona that Oscar adopted. He notes (as have other critics) that Wilde's behavior placed him "neither outside nor at the center of late-nineteenth century English society..." that "he cultivated his pose as a Dandy, inhabiting an intentionally ambiguous position near the margins but always within the bounds of Victorian society." "Dandies critique but never directly oppose the society they inhabit; through their words and actions they seek to arouse the interest of the general public, but they also try to prevent public disapproval from reaching the point that would lead to their ostracism."

In addition to the chapters devoted to interpretation, one chapter summarizes the historical context of the novel, and another, its critical reception. Here's an interesting quote from Oscar himself: "Basil Hallward [the artist] is what I think I am; Lord Henry what the world thinks of me; Dorian what I would like to be -- in other ages perhaps."… (more)