In this essay, Nassaar examines the theme of violence in two of Wilde's works, noting the influence of notorious murderer Jack the Ripper.

In late 1888 a murderer who came to be known as Jack the Ripper terrorized London prostitutes and captured the public's imagination through a series of violent crimes. Not only did he kill prostitutes with a knife but he also ripped and mutilated their bodies, so that the result was quite gruesome. By early 1890, when Oscar Wilde sat down to write The Picture of Dorian Gray, the figure of Jack the Ripper was still dominant in the public mind. My thesis here is that the influence of Jack the Ripper is discernible in some of Wilde's writings, specifically The picture of Dorian Gray and Salome.

In his desire to experience all the sinful pleasure of the world, Dorian Gray in Wilde's novel seeks to go...