Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde once wrote that, “[b]ehind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic” (Wilde LOC 88). In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the main character, Dorian Gray, is a subject of wonder. His presence alone shape the lives of those around him for better or for worse.The development of Dorian Gray as a character throughout the novel impacts the theme that appearances can be deceptive.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, today, is considered a classical philosophical fiction novel, albeit an unusual one that was condemned by society upon its initial publication for its “outrageous” thoughts and ideals that it presented. The themes presented in this novel, however, are still relevant today as it was 127 years ago. Oscar Wilde himself still remains a widely known figure, and he displays his distinctive writing style consistently and effectively throughout the entire story. These facts are not something that will change in the next 50, or even 100 years. This novel will remain a classic and will continue to teach the ideals of Oscar Wilde to readers of all future eras and beyond.

He is told to make the most of life while he is young. And even though time passees he never gets old so he continues acting immoral. When taking to Lord Henry in chapter 8, Lord Henry tells him, “Life has everything in store for you, Dorian. There is nothing that you, with your extraordinary good looks, will not be able to do” (Wilde 76). Lord Henry is expressing the power of Dorian’s youth. He escapes the many troubles of being old by staying young. Dorian is starting to believe nothing is more valuable than his youth. When he becomes aware of how his actions are affecting his soul by observing the changes in his painting, he decides to lock up the painting. The narrator says, “He himself would not see it. Why should he watch the hideous corruption of his soul? He kept his youth -- that was enough” (Wilde 89). Dorian is escaping the reality of who he really is. The painting shows his true colors, and he is represses it. He is running from his corrupt, immoral action because, he cares more about his physical youth. Youth is taking control of his actions and nothing else matters to him. Living the life that he is living takes a toll on his mental state causing him to become

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, by Oscar Wilde, it tells of a man's gradual downfall from innocence to corruption. Even the name of the main character in Oscar Wilde's tale, Dorian Gray, is very symbolic because ‘gray' is the combination of black and white, of good and evil. In many ways, Dorian Gray is the epitome of mankind. Dorian Gray, an innocent and naïve man, becomes corrupted after having one conversation with Lord Henry Wotton. He shows how easily people can become swayed and changed merely by the words of others. Society plays such an enormous role in the lives of people. As said by Thomas Babington, "The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out." How much of how we act is influenced

Most people believe everyone is born with a certain amount of innocence and as time goes on, one’s experiences and peers shape his morals. Dorian Gray is a character who is a prime example of this belief system. In the tragic story of Dorian Gray, it shows how innocence is lost over time and morals are distorted. In his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde delineates the loss of Dorian Gray’s innocence due to Lord Henry Wotton’s corruption as an indication that a focus on perpetual youth, vanity, and extravagant luxuries will deprave a person.

As the novel goes on so does Dorian's life. He begins to be under the control of Lord Henry to some degree. He also begin's to spend more time with Lord Henry, who is

Oscar Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, revolves around a young man who has his wish of eternal youth granted. His age and sins are absorbed by his portrait, while he remains youthful and physically untouched. Ultimately throwing immortality away by not living as a proper human with morals, but by sullying his soul, demonstrated by the growing hideousness of his portrait throughout his his life. Wilde by using foil characters, choice of diction to employ emotional response, and an allegory within his novel, showcases human nature’s susceptibility to corruption. Surrounding the protagonist, Dorian Gray, are two juxtaposing characters: Basil Hallward and Henry Wotton.

Dorian Gray is a narcissist and he regards his appearance, his young look - as "the only thing worth having", and sees that "when one loses one's good looks", "one loses everything". When he looks into the portrait of himself, he suddenly feels that he will be ageing and he will lose his youth and this clearly scares him. He desires to look young forever, he simply cannot stand seeing himself grow to be an old man, we can see his desire to "stay young" in "When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself". He is willing to sacrifice everything in order to protect his youth, or in other words, look better in appearance. We can see that he is getting mad as he discovers he would eventually grow old one day, he would rather sacrifice his

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.

In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde portrays the main character, Dorian Gray, transforming from an innocent, young man to a vain hedonist. He loses his innocence under the influence of Lord Henry, and is searching for something great. In the course of this story, Dorian’s motivation is clearly shown through his elaborate thoughts and actions. Being the curious character that Dorian Gray is, it is obvious that he seeks to find eternal youth and beauty until his demise. Throughout this novel, it can be proven that this idea is plotted by Lord Henry, grows under the influence of the yellow book, and shows to be a curse to one’s soul.

Dorian Gray feeds into Lord Henry’s perspective of the outer world, feeling as if his youth is slipping away from him. With urgency, Gray chases the hedonistic lifestyle that Henry teaches him. Admiring the work of art he is, the man stated, “If only the picture could change and I could be always as I am now...I would give my soul for that.”

Dorian Gray is portrayed at the beginning of the novel, as innocent, young, and handsome. Dorian represents that the value of youth and beauty is more a curse than a blessing. His physical beauty attracted the wicked influences of Lord Henry causing Dorian to follow his dark path towards a hedonistic lifestyle, leading to Dorian’s narcissistic nature to be amplified.

When Dorian Gray first meets Lord Henry at the studio of artist Basil Hallward, he is fascinated with Lord Henry’s wit and the radical social doctrines that he advocates. Dorian is easily molded and falls for the argument he hears. According to Lord Henry the goal of new hedonism, “to realize

One thing that happens to everyone in life, is confronting the reality of growing up, which comes with the aspect of maturity. As one matures, they are subject to many things that ultimately change their very being. Oscar Wilde portrays this within The Picture of Dorian Gray by having the protagonist, Dorian, encounter a plethora of moral and philosophical dilemmas, that are represented through the physical aspects of Victorian life. Revealing that becoming corrupt in some way is inevitable if one is to live in the world of man, that which corrupts one’s self comes in many forms.