Extended Essays 2021

Introduction

Oscar Wilde’s name is one, which throughout history, has not been entwined with the

prominent religious ideologies of the time. The Picture of Dorian Gray , initially published in

1890, established him as being controversial or ‘immoral’ from the perspectiv e of the church

as well as in greater society, consequentially causing him to insert a preface in the 1891

edition stating, ‘there is no such thing as a moral or immoral book’ in response. This overt

and well recognised deviation from conservative and puritan Victorian era Christianity, may

have one assume that his socially improper novel bares little correspondence with the mores

of conservative religion. However, this assumption would be incorrect. Wilde consciously or

by following the movement of his literary epoch has incorporated concepts in The Picture of

Dorian Gray , which correlate significantly with the notion of theological aesthetics.

Theological aesthetics is the combined study of both theology and aesthetics which can be

defined as ‘…questions concerned with God and issues in theology in the light of and perceived through sense knowledge’ 1 . It is the exploration and presentation of religious

concepts through the lens of aesthetics and art originating in the early Christian writings of

Justin Martyr, Origen, Irenaeus and others of similar importance in the Church, in the Post-

Apostolic age (100- 140 CE) . The prominent theme of this era was ‘the vision of God or of God’s glory, the image of God in Christ and in us, and the concern with idol worship’ 2 .

Iterations of theology combined with aesthetics, occurred repetitively over the following

centuries, including the Victorian era. This period was characterised by the Aesthetic Movement, which worked to embrace beauty as ‘the chief pursuit of both art and life’ 3 . The

concept of aestheticism in combination with theology, is exemplified by divergence of the

body and soul of the character of Dorian Gray.

Dorian Gray is introduced as a boy of pure and innocent beauty in the prime of his youth.

Upon encountering the exceedingly influential and indolent Lord Henry Wotton, Gray is

exposed to the suggestion that perpetual youth attains desire, without retribution. Resultant of

1 Thiessen, G. E , 2004. Theological Aesthetics A Reader. s.l.:Eerdmans Pub Co.. 2 Thiessen, G. E , 2004. Theological Aesthetics A Reader. s.l.:Eerdmans Pub Co.. 3 VictorianEra.org, n.d. Victorian Era Aestheticism Movement Definition. [Online] Available at: http://victorian-era.org/victorian-era-aestheticism.html [Accessed 14 July 2021].

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