In the preface to Portrait of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde uses various suggestions and aphorisms to convey the meaning of art and aestheticism. Wilde supports the ideals of Aestheticism stating that art is not to be delved into; art is only to be enjoyed for its beauty. Wilde suggests that there is no moral purpose or use for art. He writes, "The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless". Through deductive reasoning, Wilde implies that art, because it is useless, is something to be admired intensely. Art serves no purpose besides enjoyment. The aphorisms and statements of Wilde in the preface outline the major ideals of Aestheticism.
In the preface, Oscar Wilde also outlines his attitude towards his readers. Because of his strict adherence to aestheticism, Wilde wants critics and readers to enjoy art, and his work, for it's outer beauty. Wilde does not wish for his audience to seek for a deeper meaning. He praises those that view art for only its surface elegance and wittiness; Wilde articulates, "Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only beauty". Those that follow the principles of aestheticism are the ideal audience of Wilde. He does not care about the opinionsof those who think otherwise.
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