Analysis Of The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray, a novel laced with sin, treachery, and raging battles of inner conflict, is Oscar Wilde’s sole novel. Considered immoral and scandalous upon publication, the book centers around a young man named Dorian Gray, who does not age or reflect the darkness of his heart outwardly, and instead a portrait of him bears the damage his destructive life wreaks on his soul. However, the meaning of the story extends past the simple fact that Dorian lives a life of immorality—he walks the path that takes him there with his two friends, Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotten. The two attempt to guide and influence Dorian throughout the novel in their own ways, and are a vital piece of Dorian’s tale. Basil and Henry act as character foils as well as a symbolic angel and devil for Dorian Gray’s character, and also contribute themes of choosing one’s own fate.

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde is able to show how possessions can change a man so drastically. Over the course of the book the readers examine how many items such as the painting, the yellow book and much more, shape and alter Dorian from being outgoing, likable, and overall good to secluded, manipulative and most of all deceitful. Dorian gray has many motives for being deceitful that help develop the characters, and change the way they interact with each other.

  "I do not think that one person influences another, nor do I think there is any bad influence in the world," Oscar Wilde uttered when under trial (Hyde 353). Although this statement may be true, one of Wilde's most famous works shows a great deal of the effects of people shaping one another, causing one to wonder about Wilde's sincerity in that statement. The Picture of Dorian Gray shows variations on the existence and purposes of influence, displaying two types of personal influence: obvious manipulations such as that of Lord Henry upon Dorian and that of Dorian over Sybil Vane, and those that are more often overlooked such as the more subtle manipulation of Dorian over

Throughout his life Oscar Wilde had many strong influences exerted upon him. During his early childhood his mother influenced him and into college some of his professors and certain philosophers left a substantial impression upon him. Into adulthood these influences leaked out in his writing. These influences gave him ample ideas for writing The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde's study of the Hellenistic ideals of Epicurus, his coddled lifestyle as a child and his devotion to the movement of Aesthetics and Moral Ambiguity have produced one of the most astounding works of horror fiction.

Throughout the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde tells a tale about a young man named Dorian whose entire life changes after he meets Basil Hallward, who paints a portrait of Gray that ultimately leads to Gray’s demise. At the same time, Dorian also meets Lord Henry, who eventually plays a bad influence over Dorian. The portrait shows the man Dorian has become

Much of the criticism regarding The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde has dealt with Dorian Gray’s relation to his own portrait (Raby 392). While some may argue that the portrait represents a reflection of Dorian Gray’s character, this is only a superficial analysis of the novel and Dorian’s character. While Dorian Gray’s true character never changes, it is his own perception of his character (his conscience) that is reflected in the changing face of his portrait. In essence Dorian’s picture becomes a mirror through which the "true Dorian" judges his own metamorphasis as the superficial "Lord Henry Dorian" attempts to embrace Lord Henry’s teachings. Dorian’s

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Sibyl Vane’s indirect influence on Dorian Gray’s character

In chapter 20 of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Dorian reflects on his past crimes and wonders whether he will ever change and retrieve his innocence again. Throughout the final chapter of the novel, the elements of Gothic novel that Wilde explores conveys the idea of the pursuit of individualism. Dorian’s wild, racing emotions clearly show how much he is driven by his readiness to fulfill his desires under any circumstance. Through this, the use of specific words and punctuation markings highlight Dorian’s personal yearning of removing himself from his past.

In Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, beauty is depicted as the driving force in the lives of the three main characters, Dorian, Basil and Lord Henry. Dorian, the main character, believes in seizing the day. Basil, the artist, admires all that is beautiful in life. Lord Henry, accredited ones physical appearance to the ability of achieving accomplishments in life. Beauty ordains the fate of Dorian, Basil, and Lord Henry. The novel embodies the relationship of beauty and morality. Beauty is not based on how attractive an object is to everyone, but how attractive it is to one.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, is a novel about greed and ruin. Dorian Gray, received infinite youth from a portrait of him, which portrays all his sins and wrongdoings on itself, rather than his body. This freedom from morality leads Dorian Gray down a road of destruction until his sins are returned to him and he meets his end. Through a psychoanalytic Freudian lens, it is clear that Dorian Gray exhibits many of Sigmund Freud’s theories, including his theory of personality, the Oedipus complex, and the defense mechanisms.

In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the main character, Dorian Gray, transforms from a delightful and handsome young man to an insane and evil human being. In the beginning of the novel, Dorian’s best friend, Basil Hallward, describes Dorian to Lord Henry Wotton as having a “simple and beautiful nature” (Wilde 24). Hallward does not want Lord Henry to set a negative influence in Dorian’s life because it would ruin his “beautiful nature” that is portrayed in Hallward’s portrait. As the novel continues, Lord Henry’s influence turns Dorian’s personality completely around. While Basil Hallward and Dorian Gray visit together, Hallward realizes that something has changed Dorian. Hallward tells Dorian, “You were the most unspoiled creature

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde makes an effort to point out the dangers of narcissism, as well as having the complete extremes of the spectrum of good and evil, and optimistic and pessimistic. Dorian Gray is a very beautiful young man who employs a painter to capture his beauty so that he will remember it. However, when faced with the option to look like that for eternity while the painting ages and reflects his decisions instead, he gladly accepts. However, Dorian’s downfall is quickly met due to the influence of Lord Henry Wotton. His constant changing ruins his life and the lives of others, leading to his death at the end of the novel.

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 16, 1854. He was homeschooled until the age of nine, but then went to an elite private school in Ireland. While in college, Wilde was marked the top student in his department. He Had a lot of success writing novels and even came to america

Oscar Wilde’s novella, The Picture of Dorian Gray explores how submission to poor influences and a hedonistic attitude can lead to an immoral life. As Dorian learns the impact that pursuing a life of pleasure has on the soul, my cautionary story subverts this main theme of the novella, to explore the consequences of Mr. Smith pursuing the pleasure of having an influence on others.

One of Oscar Wilde’s most challenging themes, not only in his writing, but also in his professional life, is that of formulating an authentic identity in the realism of a hedonistic, pleasure-seeking lifestyle without boundaries. By first looking at this challenge in all its facets, it will be easier to comprehend the fundamental theme in his book The Picture of Dorian Gray.