Literary Narcissists

I’ve spent the last few months reading a lot about Narcissism so, thinking of taking a break, I picked up Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.

From the opening there were allusions to Narcissus but it was only as I got further along with the story that I realised just how close Wilde’s descriptions of Dorian illustrate and reflect NPD as I have experienced it. The metaphorical picture in the attic doesn’t just grow old, it also shows the cruelty and callousness of Dorian’s behaviour on its face while he goes through life with his youth and beauty intact. The picture and the person symbolise the ideas about the real and the false self so beautifully and so visually that the novel is almost more useful than all of the theoretical texts I’ve read put together. Dorian's desperation to keep the real self hidden was also so redolent of the 'small deaths' some of you have spoken of.

Dorian’s treatment of his fiancé, Sybil, an actress who he initially adores is also so emotive. He thinks that she will prove his ‘greatness’ through her talent (basking in her glory) but when she falls in love with him he begins to think her common and rejects her in the most ruthless manner:

"You have killed my love. You used to stir my imagination. Now you don't even stir my curiosity. You simply produce no effect. I loved you because you were marvellous, because you had genius and intellect, because you realised the dreams of great poets and gave shape and substance to the shadows of art. You have thrown it all away. You are shallow and stupid.... I would have made you famous, splendid, magnificent. The world would have worshipped you, and you would have borne my name.”

I was amazed how closely this mirrored the devaluation process that some posters have described! I fortunately did not experience this myself – not fully. But it does seem to correspond with what I have read here.

Then, at the end of the novel when Dorian went to the opium dens of London to try to assuage his guilt – to 'forget with the poppy', it was uncanny!

If you haven’t read it I highly recommend the novel. Wilde writes wonderfully about the thought processes and experiences of the Narcissist. I’m not sure how much he knew about it (I know Freud wrote about it in the 1840’s but I don’t know how detailed his definition was?) but I found it really illuminating.

The next man I meet (if indeed I ever do), I will be checking his attic for any pictures.......

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the idea. Was Wilde himself a narcissist? Or where did he get his inspiration for that kind of character?

Thanks Asuka - I'll look it up!

Wilde was a strange character - he was quite a dandy and as you probably know had a scathing wit. Its hard to believe that he wasn't a Narcissist if you read the book - honestly he's got it down pat. It was so interesting to see things from that perspective - it really made me understand things a lot.

Wilde was imprisoned for sodomy (well actually I think he was eventually imprisoned because he fought against an allegation of sodomy - even though it was true! Hello, false self calling!). He died in penury in France and everyone had abandoned him. I believe his final words, as he looked around his shabby room were 'Either I or the wallpaper must go'!

And of course at the Customs Office whilst travelling 'I have nothing to declare except my genius'. He's sounding a bit narcy isn't he? Saying that, he was a genius.

Ha! Yes - that was strange that we both chose the same quote.

My most favourite though is:
'We are all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars'. That doesn't sound so Narcy does it?

However I don't think Wilde ever got the recognition or fame that he felt he deserved - his popularity fluctuated in London (sometimes his plays were packed and sometimes they were torn to shreds by the reviewers). The literary critics hated 'Dorian Gray' and it was the only novel he ever wrote. But he used to attack the reviewers as well!

If you get the chance watch the film 'Wilde' with Stephen Fry (he is uncannily like him). Bosie (the boy he fell in love with who eventually led to his imprisonment) is played by Jude Law - and he is really brilliant:- nasty and petulant and spoilt. But Stephen Fry is amazing! It is so awful when they put him in prison.... really awful.

Asuka wrote:NPDs tend to suffer from delusions of superiority,hence the narcissistic decompensation/rage, but Wilde actually was superior.

Wait... if I'm actually a genius would I have to drop the NPD label? "Narcissistic style" just doesn't have the same ring.

Ha Sfguy! No you are not allowed!

It is actually well documented that Wilde was cruel and ruthless as well as being a genius. A lot of his work (especially his essays and the stuff he wrote when he was a journalist) reek of superiority complex. The are full of quite haughty statements about the nature of life, art, beauty etc. as if he were the expert on everything. He couldn't bear being criticised and attacked the reviewers who didn't like his plays vehemently. And the whole trial farce - that had him sent to Reading Gaol of 2 or 3 years was ridiculous! It was in fact extremely Narcissistic of him to even pursue the case and think he could get away with it.

All told I don't think he was a 'nice' person. But he had a gift and I have to admit I love him for it. Not sure I'd have wanted to be his friend though? I'll stick to reading his books instead.

You MUST watch it - honestly it is so good.

Is that the writer who killed himself - in the ritualised way? I have heard of him - I think he even won the Nobel Prize? But I've not read any of his stuff? Would you recommend anything for me?

I do like Japanese literature - I like Haruki Murikama and have read a lot of his novels. The are very strange! But hauntingly beautiful.

Yes - I think you'd like him. Very eerie and haunting stuff.

This guy sounds fascinating - I'll definitely look him up.

Still can't get over Dorian Gray though!

Normal? wrote:Still can't get over Dorian Gray though!

Normal? You've given me a very pleasurable afternoon. I took today off, and was tinkering around the house. Checked this site and found this thread. I'd never read The Picture of Dorian Gray, although of course I'd heard of it. Then I read your remarks and I've spent most of the afternoon skimming through the book, reading some summaries and analyses online, looking into the life of the author, and reading others' opinions about the overlap between Oscar Wilde's life and times as reflected in the book. I've had such a good afternoon... thank you!!!
And I hesitate to say this because I haven't yet truly read the book, just skimmed it, but I certainly see your narcissism point. I will now go on to really read it. I've known at least one person who could have been a real-life Dorian Gray, eternal youth and all.

Hey Lifesong

I love it when that happens, when something grabs your attention and you can investigate and research and learn. It is the best way to spend a day off! I almost wish I hadn't read it now so that I'd be able to read it again for the first time (if you know what I mean).

I was also struck at the end of the novel when Dorian makes an attempt to be 'good' for once, but fails because ultimately he is always motivated by HIS OWN needs.

For it was an unjust mirror, this mirror of his soul that he was looking at. Vanity? Curiosity? Hypocrisy? Had there been nothing more in his renunciation than that? There had been something more. At least he thought so. But who could tell? . . . No. There had been nothing more. Through vanity he had spared her. In hypocrisy he had worn the mask of goodness. For curiosity's sake he had tried the denial of self. He recognized that now.