Personal Value at Stake - Essay Example

Personal Value at Stake

Oscar Wilde is one of the persons of literary merit that is renowned for writing diverse good stories out of creativity. Among his great literature works include The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Portrait of Mr. W.H. Throughout his literary works, Wilde has wildly addressed “personal value at stake” as one of his themes. In the novels, Wilde introduces some things that his characters embrace and some challenges that result in the loss of the values. Based on this assertion, the paper will use the three books introduced above to justify the claim that “Personal Value at Stake” is a theme typically used in Wilde’s works.

The Portrait of Mr. W. H

In the novel “The Portrait of Mr. W.H,” Wilde introduces Erskine as one of the main characters to expound on the theme “Personal Value at Stake.” At the beginning of his story, Erskine expresses his dislike for Lord Crediton. According to Erskine, Lord Crediton used to discredit people including persons that were valued by other people. In connection with this claim, Earnest expounds on Lord Crediton showed disrespect for a person he valued in his life. Lord Crediton asked Erskine “not to grow up a damned Radical like his father” (Wilde 7). Similarly, Erskine speaks about Cyril’s relationship with Lord Crediton to further expound on how Lord Crediton threatens other people’s values. According to Earnest, Crediton disliked Cyril because of his appearance. He was envious of his handsome appearance, forcing Cyril to run away.

In his novel, Wilde also expounds on how Cyril valued his personal appearance more than anything else in his life. According to Wilde, many people including Earnest admired Cyril. However, Cyril’s value for his look made many envious people discredit his appearance as well as to ridicule him in the society. In support of this assertion, Wilde notes that Cyril’s admiration of his appearance resulted in conflicts that built a rift between him and other members of the society including Philistines, college tutors in addition to young men interested in Church matters (Wilde 8).

Apart from talking the threats to other people’s values, Wilde introduces his values, and how they are threatened in the novel The Portrait of Mr. W.H. After learning about Cyril Graham and his unfulfilled literature work, Wilde became interested in sonnets. He wanted to continue with Graham’s work so that he can fulfill his goals before his death. To challenge the process, Wilde introduces an obstacle to show that what he values is at stake. In connection with this claim, one can deduce that Wilde uses his friend, Earnest, as an obstacle to his ambitions. According to Wilde, Earnest’s words “My dear fellow, let me advice you not to waste your time over the Sonnets. I am quite serious” (Wilde 31) were aimed at discouraging him.

In a significant part of the novel The Portrait of Mr. W.H., Wilde expresses his love for the beauty. The same also applies in the novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Wilde’s worry when talking about beauty is that beauty disappears with time. His value for beauty makes him feel bad when he remembers that it is not permanent. According to Wilde, beauty withers just like a flower and dies (Wilde 42). From this assertion, a person can deduce that beauty is one of the values that are at stake in his novel. Similarly, it is apparent that Wilde’s works talk greatly about love that is at stake. According to Wilde, many people pretend to love each other whereas their love is complicated. In connection with this, he argues that young boys are prevented from exercising what they love because of their sex. According to him, many people are robbed what they value in the society such as acting with the claim that they lack the potential of portraying the passions of different sex (Wilde 77).

The Picture of Dorian Grey

In the story The Picture of Dorian Grey, Wilde expounds on Basil Hallward love for the portrait ha had painted. According to Wilde, Basil valued the portrait because he had painted it out of his love for the person in the portrait. Although the panting is the best and can make him famous, Basil is not ready to sale it (Wilde 4). His value for portrait, however, is at stake since close friends such as Lord Henry criticize him for sitting on his potential in the name of loving the portrait. According to Wilde, Basil fears to exhibit the portrait of Dorian Grey because he showed in it the secret of his soul (Wilde 8).

In connection with the above paragraph, Wilde also expounds on how love is at stake in the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey. According to him, Basil never wanted anybody to know about the person in the portrait because he valued him very much. He knew that informing other people about Dorian Gray will influence them into taking him away from him. It is because of this that he expresses his fear after Lord Henry identifies the person in the portrait (Wilde 6). According to Basil, “when he likes people immensely he never tells their names to anyone. It is like surrendering a part of them” (Wilde 6). Equally, Wilde claims that Basil’s pleasure is at stake. According to Wilde, the fear of losing oneself pleasure is one of the factors that make Basil avoid informing people where he often goes when out of town (Wilde 6).

In the novel, Wilde also claims that Basil valued seeing Dorian Gray every day because he is necessary to him. However, he also states that Basil is unable to tell Doran Grey about his affection in fear of the outcome (Wilde 26). From the assertion, it is apparent that Basil’s hidden affection for Gray is at stake. Anything can happen when Gray learns of what is Basil’s mind. In tandem with this, Wilde expounds on Basil’s affection for Gray. According to him, Basil is afraid of Dorian Gray being spoilt; he values him so much that he expects the best of him. However, Lord Henry’s interaction with Gray is expected to result to the unexpected. “Don’t spoil him. Don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad” (Wilde 37), said Basil. Basil further informs Lord Henry, “Don’t take away from me the one person who gives to my art whatever charm is possessed; my life as an artist depends on him” (Wilde 37). Considering this, a person can note that Basil has sensed danger. He is about to lose what he values through the influence of his friend.

In the novel, a person can also note that Dorian Gray values his portraits. According to Wilde, Gray he spent a significant amount of his time as Basil’s sitter to ensure the portrait is completed effectively. In connection to the portrait, Wilde claims that Gray appearance, which he values so much, is at stake. According to Wilde, Gray is afraid of aging and the portrait remaining the same. Gray says, “if it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! –for that- I would give everything” (Wilde 71).

The Importance of Being Earnest

As it was argued before, Wilde speaks mainly about love and its immediate challenges. According to him, love is one of the personal values that are at stake. In the play The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde expresses how Jack’s love for Gwendolen is at stake. According to Wilde, Algernon demands Jack to explain how he relates with Cecily before he allows him to propose to Gwendolen (Wilde 15). From Algernon’s argument, one can deduce that Jack is a flirter that aims at hurting Algernon’s first cousin, Gwendolen. “My dear fellow, the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful,” said Algernon (Wilde 12). According to Algernon, Jack was not going to marry Gwendolen as he claimed because girls do not marry men they cheat. From the argument, it is apparent that Jack’s love is at stake; it may break if Algernon decides to inform Gwendolen about Jack’s relationship with Cecily.

In the play, Wilde also expounds on how privacy, personal value, is at stake. According to Wilde, Jack fears intrusion of his privacy. It is as a result of this that he requests Algernon not read what is written in the cigarette casing because he considers it wrong. From the argument between Jack and Algernon about the writings in the cigarette casing, one can affirm that exposure of Jack’s relationship with Algernon’s aunt is likely to affect Jack’s relationship with Gwendolen (Wilde 18).

In relation to the argument that has been provided above, Kohl and Wilson (149) argues that Wilde’s works are loaded with personal values that take place within an indoor setting. According to them, personal appearance is one of the personal values that are at stake in the majority of Wilde’s works. For instance, they argue that the mirror expressed Gray’s moral depravity through its changes (Kohl and Wilson 152). As it was argued before, Gray’s love for the portrait was at stake. In support of this, Kohl and Wilson argues that the murdering of Basil by Gray led to the loss of beauty for the ugliness that became a reality. In addition to this, they argue that the portrait presented the moral integrity of Gray that withered after some time.

In conclusion, Oscar Wilde is one of the renowned writers that employ a specific theme in almost all his literature works. The main theme in the majority of his works is “Personal Value at Stake.” In almost all of his works, Wilde uses portraits of individuals to expound on his personal values. Among the values that he speaks about in his works include morality, physical appearance, love, and family.