Identity Construction in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray

Abstract

The article is a study on Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and its Landscapes of the Self, in which the theme of identity assumes pivotal importance. Identities, considered in their fictional and dynamic nature and as discursive constructions, are fundamentally intertwined with the socio-cultural environment. The study is focused on an analysis of aesthetics and the dialogical relationship between art and language as a means of constructing identity within Wilde’s novel. The aim of the article is to pinpoint their constructive and destructive functions for identity formation, also taking into account the contemporary social and cultural contexts surrounding the creation of Oscar Wilde’s work, emphasizing the intrinsic connection between literature and its cultural and societal backdrop. The analysis uncovers how the fears, anxieties, and social dynamics of the fin de siècle are intricately woven into literature. Recognizing the richness of Oscar Wilde’s references to the social and cultural practices of the Victorian and late Victorian periods, this study employs an interdisciplinary approach rooted in Cultural Studies, utilizing its diverse perspectives.