The picture of Dorian Gray - Life as the greatest of the Arts

Comprehension:

•1)     What are you told of Dorian Gray's lifestyle?

Right from the start the intelligent reader understands that Dorian Gray, the main character, is a "rigid" person, who behaves always in the same way, and follows all the same rhythm of life. (lines 1,2: every month, each Wednesday).

The reader understands that Dorian Gray has an high life's style: during winter he usually opens his house to the most celebrated musicians of the day to charm his guests with the wonders of their art.

•2)     What is for him the greatest art?

In his opinion the greatest of Arts is Life, while all the others seem to be only a preparation.

•3)     Why is Dorian Gray an ideal for educated young men? Why is being consulted on matters of fashion not enough for Dorian?

He is an ideal for educated very young men, because they saw in Dorian Gray the true realization of a type of which they have often dreamed, a type that was to combine the real culture of the scholar with all the grace and distinction and perfect manner of a citizen of the world. To them he seemed to be of the company of who he make themselves perfect by the worship of beauty. He was one for whom  "the visible world existed".

•4)     What is the common attitude to the "worship of senses" and what has this attitude caused?

The common attitude to the "worship of senses" is the complete surrender of men to senses. In Dorian Gray's ideas this attitude has caused an incomprehension in men, who remained savage.

•5)     What era the principles of Dorian's "new Hedonism"?

The principle of Dorian's "new Hedonism" was to recreate life and save it from Puritanism. Its aim was to be experience himself, and not the fruits of experience, sweet or bitter as they might be.