The Irresistible Dandy in the Written World.
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The Dandy, that man about town, with his debonair looks and attitude, may well have arisen in the 18th century but he is still present today. In real life, the most famous being the British social climber and all-around handsome man about town, Beau Brummell. Known for their enticing aura, the air around a Dandy was and is, filled with intrigue. So it’s no wonder that writers have been so enthralled by them too. Dandy can be defined in a variety of different ways, whether that’s in place of the word excellent or being used to describe a man (typically) who is concerned with being fashionable and looking stylish. Dandyism can be seen throughout European literature, since its birth in the 18th century. But really, dandyism was always a bit more English than anything else. Find out more in The Irresistible Dandy in the Written World.
Starting out of criticism for the bourgeois culture that was clear in France and England, especially London and Paris, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A man can become a dandy for lots of different reasons, whether that’s from the need to make a political statement or asserting your individuality, being a dandy meant your stylishness, intelligence, and social status were being worn on your sleeves.
A dandy, in its barest form, is a man who thinks physical appearance is important. So, a man preferring to wear outfits that would be considered stylish to certain more aristocratic circles of society, especially if those outfits are made bespoke by tailors and shoemakers.
Dandy’s also have a specific way of speaking, think of any main male characters in Oscar Wilde’s plays, in the effort to try and emulate aristocracy. The language these men would use had to be refined, reflecting their sophistication through being able to articulate.
One of the most infamous dandies to walk the earth during the 19th century as mentioned, was Beau Brummell, seen as a fashion pioneer for his choice of clothes, bringing his own twist to the dark coats and full-length trousers that were in style at the time. Brummell was often described as being one of the first real male fashion icons, having inspired countless characters, plays and films. His influence on regency-era men’s fashion is notable even to this day.
On top of his attire was the simple fact he aspired to be seen as coming from the highest echelons of the British Social Structure, not born into aristocracy but he behaved as though he was.
Literature in 18th and 19th century Europe helped forever immortalise the Dandy as a character in literature, plays, and films. The dandy figure has long held a place of fascination in both literature and society, standing for a deliberate construction of identity centred around style, sophistication, and individualism. Pelham: Or the Adventures of a Gentleman by Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton is often thought of as being the first piece of literature to feature a real, authentic dandy character.
The dandy archetype was so influential that the character type can still be seen in modern literature.
A notorious one being playwright Oscar Wilde. Although a lot of his dandy characters are based in satire and criticism, there is no doubt that some of Wilde’s most flamboyant characters are true, authentic dandies.
Wilde’s writing usually explored themes about identity, social constraints, and the hypocrisy of the upper class, making for some interesting characters and stories.
The picture of Dorian Gray has a variety of different Dandy characters. The most notable Dandy in the story is, of course, Dorian Gray. The character of Dorian Gray focuses on an almost narcissistic obsession with his own appearance and newfound lust for pleasure and indulgence.
The Picture of Dorian Gray follows a young, innocent yet extremely handsome man named Dorian Gray, who astonishes a society painter, Lord Henry Wotton, that the artist insists on painting his portrait. Dorian’s behaviour becomes corrupted by the society he now moves in and the portrait becomes older and uglier as time goes on.
However, this handsome Dorian stays looking young and unchanged even though the same could not be said for the portrait. As Dorian descends into a life of excess and vice, he becomes increasingly consumed by guilt and corruption, and rather than his appearance changing the painting does, ultimately leading to his tragic downfall when he confronts the true nature of his portrait.
But aside from Dorian, the novel features another thoroughly nihilistic character. Lord Henry Wotton influenced Dorian’s nihilistic philosophy and pushed towards Dorian’s pleasure fuelled the hedonism spiral. Lord Wotton’s own hedonism is so prominent in the character, a top of his own preference for fashion and being seen as stylish by his peers.
The single book featuring two Dandy men probably draws from the reality of dandies in the late 19th century, it’s rumoured that many characters in the novel are inspired by Wilde’s own friends and social circle. Most of them of course, denied their likeness to the characters.
Patrick Bateman as the main character from Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, gives a more modern view of the Dandy. Bateman is one modern character who is outstandingly reliant on self-grooming and looking after himself through skincare and fashionable expensive designer clothes.
Patrick Bateman’s likeness to a dandy is evident in all iterations of the story. He clearly cares about his own appearance and puts excessive amounts of effort in to make sure those in his social circle, his co-workers, notice his physical appearance and upkeep.
American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy, narcissistic investment banker in 1980s Manhattan, who leads a double life as a brutal, psychopathic killer or does he? As Bateman becomes more detached from reality, he falls deeper into his shallow existence, obsessing over social status, appearances, and materialism while engaging in increasingly violent and disturbing behaviour.
Count Almaviva from the play The Barber of Seville, Rossini’s play that became a ballet and opera, is a Dandy in a simple form, he is a man who likes to pay attention to his physical appearance. Although, this is in a slightly more unconventional way but still having his ability to dress up and not feel pressured by the social implications. Focusing on fashion and style is quintessential dandy behaviour, as well being more nonchalant about the social norms that come when defying fashion rules.
The Barber of Seville follows the story of Count Almaviva, who falls in love with Rosina, the ward of the wealthy but controlling Dr. Bartolo. Disguising himself as a poor student named Lindoro, Almaviva seeks the help of Figaro, a clever barber, to win Rosina’s heart and thwart Dr. Bartolo’s plans to marry her.
Like many other dandies, Almaviva also has a wit about him and focuses not only on fashion and being stylish but also on being able to create some sort of banter with the other people in his social circle, whether that’s through playful manipulation or tactical and thought-out conversations
Jay Gatsby, one of the main characters from the book by the American writer F Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby follows the most classically laid out rules for a dandy man. He upholds an aristocratic image for himself even though he comes from a poor background, he cares about his appearance, and he is focused on cultivating his own image and cares deeply about the way that people in his social circle perceive him.
The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island and becomes fascinated by his wealthy and mysterious neighbour, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is revealed to be a self-made millionaire obsessed with rekindling a lost romance with Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s cousin, who is married to the affluent but disillusioned Tom Buchanan.
Gatsby is known for his extravagant parties, tailored suits, and lavish style of living, all of which are there to create an image of elegance and aristocracy. His extravagant mansion and carefully curated image reflect his desire to be seen as a man of taste, even though much of it is based on lies. He constructs a whole identity centred around the idea of being a man of culture and success, despite coming from more humble beginnings.
In a way, Gatsby embodies the dandy’s fascination with form and outward appearances, creating a persona that is as much about face-to-face glamour as it is about what is actually beneath.
The Great Gatsby is soon to have another play run, in April this year. The Great Gatsby – A new musical is set to run at the London Coliseum venue in Westminster. Starring Jamie Muscato and Frances Mayli McCann playing the leads.
Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities set in 1980s New York like American psycho, you wouldn’t expect to find a dandy in a setting like this but having themes set around class, whether that’s in the US or the UK, can lend itself better to the story of a Dandy, since many dandies were also social climbers.
The Bonfire of the Vanities follows Sherman McCoy, a wealthy Wall Street bond trader, whose life unravels after a car accident in the Bronx leads to a scandal. As McCoy’s involvement in the incident becomes a media sensation, he faces legal battles, betrayal, and the unravelling of his social and financial status.
Tommy Killian is another example of a more modern dandy because of his overt focus on appearance, style, and his meticulously crafted social personality. His fixation on these aspects of himself really shows how much importance he puts into his image and perceived social status.
In the case of Tommy Killian, he is shown to be a wealthy, self-assured man who makes a deliberate effort to project an image of sophistication. His mannerisms, fashion choices, and his lifestyle are all geared towards reinforcing this image. Killian’s appearance and behaviour are highly polished and try to persuade you that he has a sense of cultivated superiority, which is a big part of the characteristics that make up a dandy’s desire to stand out for their fashion and refined lifestyle.
Vampires, especially in literature, are often portrayed as ageless, charming, and with a heightened sense of fashion and self-regard, all of which align with the traits of a dandy. Their immortality would give them an eternal advantage in keeping the same youthful appearance, which could contribute to their meticulous attention to their appearance and social status.
Lestat de Lioncourt from Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice is a quintessential dandy because he fits the role of such a person perfectly, embodying many of the characteristics associated with the archetype of a dandy: a refined and flamboyant sense of style, an emphasis on self-presentation, and an intense awareness of his social status.
Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac, a centuries-old vampire, as he recounts his life story to a journalist. He shares his transformation into a vampire by the charismatic Lestat de Lioncourt, his complex relationships with Lestat and the child vampire Claudia, and his internal struggle with the nature of immortality and morality.
Lestat is meticulously concerned with his looks and makes sure his style is striking and sophisticated. As a vampire, his physical beauty is immortalized, and he fully embraces his attractiveness, using it to captivate and manipulate others. His fashion choices, though often described as extravagant or theatrical, are calculated to set him apart from ordinary people.
The protagonist of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley, Tom Ripley puts in meticulous attention to his appearance, style, and his calculated use of charm to support an air of sophistication and superiority. Like a true dandy, He invests big amounts of effort into adopting the mannerisms, language, and behaviour of the wealthy, often mimicking their tastes and interests to fit in with those around him.
The Talented Mr. Ripley follows Tom Ripley, a young man with a talent for deception and impersonation, who is sent to Europe to retrieve a wealthy man’s son, Dickie Greenleaf. Instead, Tom becomes enamoured with Dickie’s life and decides to murder him, taking on his identity. As Tom slips deeper into his lies, he struggles to keep the façade while avoiding detection, ultimately showing his unsettling ability to manipulate and control those around him.
Ripley’s obsession with luxury and status is another key dandy trait. He longs for the life of ease that comes with wealth and uses his appearance and charm to persuade others into giving him access to it. Ripley is a master of living a life of performance, embodying the ideal of a dandy who focuses on aesthetics and social status, while constantly shaping his identity to fit his desires.
From the political critique of bourgeois society in the 18th and 19th centuries to the hedonistic excesses of modern characters, the dandy’s focus on appearance and status serves as both a personal expression and a commentary on social structures.
the dandy archetype has managed to remain relevant almost 300 years after it’s conception. although, sometimes the character may take on different forms, the grand rules still remain. Film adaptations, as common as they are currently, have been made for countless dandy focused stories which helps keep the Dandy alive.
Whether in the extravagant costumes of Beau Brummell or the morally complex personas of characters like Dorian Gray, Patrick Bateman, or Tom Ripley, the dandy embodies a life of performance, one that underscores the tension between surface and substance, beauty and corruption, and individuality and societal expectations.
The continued relevance of the dandy in literature shows us the enduring allure of the pursuit of refinement and the dangers of becoming too consumed by your own outward image.
Although the stereotypical dandy figure has changed since the 18th century, the act of caring about appearance, fashion styles and individuality is still around. The change is notable, and even present in literature, like the characters covered here, with dandy characters going from waistcoat to something a bit more hipster. although, many people around the world are trying to stay dear to the more classic dandy attire.
if you enjoyed reading the irresistible dandy in the written world then why not read How Colour Photos Became Fun and Frivolous
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