playwright, Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray which was published on 2003 was used as the primary data. Second, the secondary data were books that
were used to provide theories, such as Bressler’s Literary Criticism, Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary Terms, Murphy’s Understanding Unseen, etc. Some critical
reviews and theories obtained from some Internet sites were also used. Firstly, the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde was
read focusing on the content. Afterward, the novel was re-read to understand it more and to analyze it. The story is very important because the form of this
literary work is a novel and therefore it holds the biggest role in conveying the author’s idea or state of mind.
Next the writer formulated three questions. These three questions represented the problems that needed to be solved. The first question dealt with
the characters in the novel. The second question dealt with the depiction of the battle between the pleasure and reality principles within the novel. The third had
to do with the question of how this battle of two principles reflects the author’s inner conflict.
Thirdly, relating parts into whole. This step tried to make the information from step one and two become one. Therefore, in this step the information that
can answer the problem was gathered to analyze the novel. In this step this novel was analyzed based on the theories and references that were able to help in
answering the problems. The fourth step was making conclusion toward the analysis. This step was
the conclusion of the analysis of the novel. In this step the important points in the
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analysis were chosen and were made one or two paragraphs. Finally, the important points in the analysis were gathered and were put in one chapter called
conclusion.
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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
The pleasure and reality principles are two principles that govern human’s behavior. These principles are opposite one and another. In Wilde’s novel, the
depiction of the pleasure and reality principles is seen through two ways. First through the characterization of the three major characters, they are Lord Henry
Wotton, Basil Hallward and Dorian Gray. The second is seen through the conflicts happen in the story, conflicts between one character and other characters, or one
character with the society in the novel. Conclusively, the battle between the pleasure and reality principles which is shown through the characterization and
the conflicts in the story reflects the author’s internal conflicts.
A. The Characterization of the Main Characters in the Novel
There are three main characters in the novel that are being analyzed. They are Dorian Gray, Lord Henry Wotton and Basil Hallward.
1. Characteristics of Basil Hallward
Basil Hallward is a hardworker, a famous painter and a friend of Lord Henry Wotton and Dorian Gray. Basil is considered as a hardworker because
Basil loves his job as a painter and he is proud of what he has done. He tries to achieve the most perfect result.
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As the painter looked at the gracious and comely form he had so skillfully mirrored in his heart, a smile of pleasure passed across his face and
seemed about to linger there p. 5.
As a painter Basil has a great adoration for Dorian for he is a very interesting object of art. To him, Dorian’s picture is the greatest achievement in
his life, his masterpiece, and his best work of art. As said by Murphy, character’s characteristics can be seen from the character’s speech.
There is nothing that Art cannot express, and I know that work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is a good work, is the best work of my life
p.14. Lord Henry Wotton who considers Dorian’s picture as the best
achievement for Basil supports this statement. “It is your best work, Basil, the best thing you have ever done, “said Lord Henry, languidly. You must certainly send it
next year to the Grosvenor “p.7. This is also shown in what he said to Lord Henry about Dorian, “Don’t
take away from me the one person who gives to my art whatever charms it may possesses; my life as an artist depends on him.”p. 18
This statement shows how deeply connected Basil is to his work. To him his work is his world and then finally his object transfers into part of his world
also. Basil used to think of himself as someone independent. He is someone who is indifferent to others. His main interest is art. This belief has changed since he
met Dorian. He adores Dorian too much. Dorian is one of his most precious object of art and his good friend.
Harry, how independent I am by nature. I have always been my own master, had at least always been so, till I met Dorian Gray p. 11.
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