Characteristics Of The Victorian Period

The Victorian Era took place from 1837 till 1901, named after Queen Victoria herself. The population of the United Kingdom mirrored numerous classes.

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.

When Basil paints the portrait of Dorian Gray, Dorian becomes angry and curses the picture. The idea of the picture will retain the youthful and beauty, that Dorain now has, for all of time, while Dorian is strictened with the curse of having to endure all the signs of aging, is too much for him to bare. In jealousy and anger Dorian wishes that it be the portrait that bare the signs of aging and sin and he be the one that retains his beauty forever. In this moment of jealousy and anger, shows a Dorian that too bares the emotion of vulnerability and insecurity. From this point of the book onward, these emotions are now who this character becomes.

This story is about a young handsome man, Dorian Gray who was in his budding years when he met Basil Hallward which is a painter. Basil Hallward. Basil finds his beauty so ethereal with god-like looks that he couldn’t resist painting a portrait of Dorian. At that time, Dorian was a very naïve man who did not know anything about life then. However when Lord Henry

While the Victorian Age of literature is not heralded for its equal treatment of male and female characters, it does mark and interesting shift between the ideas of the role of

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

In Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray we experience the themes of loss, greed, and immortality. These theme’s are the surface level aspects that one can easily attain to, but what is the true visual that Wilde is portraying is the corruption of egotism which correlates to the greed of immortality. Influence can skew an individuals mind, and make them believe things that aren’t true, in the story Lord Henry is this influence, and throughout we see how Dorian changes from his presence. Greed of beauty is a common aspect that needs no introduction, for Basil, the painter who finds Dorian to be his muse is locked in the mindset of Dorian being his true perfection. Through Basil Dorian meets Lord Henry who slows embodies Dorian’s mind, for Dorian finds the light of his heart with Sybil, yet he becomes a changed man after his greed of true beauty and performance is lost. Everyone see’s Dorian for not what he is, a youthful and pure face, when in fact his façade is only a cover of something sinister, his face soon symbolizes his morality. For as the common adage that is spoke, one’s face is the window to their soul, Dorian’s is ever still and unchanging yet his heart cripples him going against his presence. His face is what draws people to him, then they find out the true Dorian is ill because how corrupt his mind gets from Lord Henry’s influence.

Oscar Wilde’s, The Picture of Dorian Gray, exhibits the growth and development of the titular character throughout his lifetime. Dorian Gray’s wish to preserve his youth while his portrait carries the burden of his aging, was granted without his initial knowledge. After realizing that his appearance would always remain young, he maintained a different outlook on how his soul would alter based on outside influences. The most significant influences on Dorian Gray were his closest friends, Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton, and the book given to him by Lord Henry as a gift. Basil was immediately taken with Dorian after their first meeting at Lady Brandon’s party.

In the novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Oscar Wilde conveys a tragic story of a young protagonist, Dorian Gray and his transition from innocence to immoral. Dorian's character changed drastically after all the influence around him. Dorian's life was perfect with good-looking appearance, which was influence by other characters especially Lord Henry. The novel conveys the drastic change of Dorian's character as it comes to an end. The surroundings of Dorian Gray changed him for the worst and it led to his downfall.

The Victorian Period was a great influence to the authors who composed novels at that time where distinctions between social classes as well as between men and women were strongly marked. During this period, it was precisely a woman who ruled. Alexandrina Victoria who was born on May 24, 1819 became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 until her death on January 22, 1901. Victoria’s reign was one of the longest of a female in history. At only the age of 18, after her uncle William Henry IV died, she began a span of 63 years of reign. In spite of her independence and power, Victoria fell into a deep depression when her husband died in 1861 and ever since she wore black every day for the rest of her

It is portrayed that Basil’s view of art is viewed only from his obsession and love over Dorian due to his innocent and unspoiled nature. Basil’s dull moralistic attitudes also has an unscrupulous selfish intent due to his obsession over maintaining Dorian unspoiled by anything Basil views as “corrupt”. This remarks his obsession over his of his aesthetic views towards art, and not having anyone have a corruptive influence in spoiling his Dorian, thus corrupting his art. When Dorian curses that realization that he will age while the painting would remain the same, Basil lunges to destroy the painting because of the uneasiness and corruption brought up onto his muse. Dorian Gray watched as Hallward walked over to the painting table and picked up a knife.

He is infatuated with Dorian's beauty in the beginning. He appreciated Dorian's beauty but did not wish to possess it for himself. Basil exclaims, “When our eyes met, I felt that I was growing pale... I knew that I had come face to face with someone whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself.” His love for Dorian changed the way he perceived art. Basil eventually paints a portrait of Dorian to capture his beauty forever. Basil’s portrait marks a new phase in his career. Once he has painted Dorian, he fears that he has put too much of himself into the work. Basil reluctantly introduces Dorian to Lord Henry, who he fears will have a damaging influence on Dorian. He admits, “Yes, that is his name. I didn't intend to tell it to you.” Basil is later envious of the relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian. Lord Henry upsets Dorian with a speech about the transient nature of beauty and youth. Basil, wishing to protect and defect him, voices his objection to Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian. Dorian felt Basil had come to realize his true personality and that he would bring it to someones attention. Basil is murdered by Dorian. The murder of Basil marks the beginning of Dorian's end. He cannot overcome the realization that he killed his friend.

The film (2009) started with Dorian killing Basil. Dorian was a young French man who went to London after the death of his grandfather because he was the sole heir. Dorian was good looking maybe, too good looking that he captured the imagination of the painter, Basil. Now, in the film, it seemed that Basil doesn’t look half as what the book describes. The book says that he was rugged but in the film he seemed to be as if a ladies’ man and very well groomed. He even introduced Dorian to Henry at the party which is not true in the book. There was also an underlying affection and fixation for the part of the painter towards Dorian. In the film, it was interpreted as love and lust.

A famous artist named Basil Hallward completes his first portrait of Dorian Gray: a wealthy, beautiful young man who intensely captures Basil’s artistic motivation. Dorian is furious at his painting however, after Basil’s friend, Lord Henry Wotton, explains to him how momentary and fragile his beauty and youth are; and in a fit of madness Dorian promises his soul if the artwork could bear his burden of mortality, guaranteeing him to stay young forever.

great prosperity in Great Britain's literature. The Victorian Age produced a variety of changes. Political and social reform produced a variety of reading among all classes. The lower-class became more self-conscious, the middle class more powerful and the rich became more vulnerable. The novels of Charles Dickens, the poems of Alfred,