When Escapism Becomes Neurotic : A Psychoanalytic Reading of Defense Mechanisms Employed in The Picture of Dorian Gray as a Medium to Escape Reality

Abstract: Using psychoanalysis as a theoretical framework, this essay examines the subject of escapism in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Defense mechanisms of the ego, first thought of by Sigmund Freud, allow for a clearer understanding of what takes place during the plot. By taking the author’s background into account, along with clues in the plot of the novel, a more realistic reading of the novel is made possible instead of a supernatural take. A psychoanalytic perspective allows the essay to explore why and how the protagonist chooses to escape in the novel. The main focus of the analysis is how the protagonist of the novel carries the theme of escapism with increased intensity as the plot progresses. The essay considers why and how Dorian chooses to escape reality and utilizes the theoretical framework for two defense mechanisms used as an aid during escapist activities. Dorian progressively uses the defense mechanisms known as repression and rationalization to support his escapist behavior and protect his ego from anxiety derived from internal and external conflicts.