The Picture Of Dorian Gray

When looking at Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray, it is clear that Frankenstein is a novel that can be placed into both the gothic and horror genre, although it is a gothic novel secondary to it being a horror novel; The picture of Dorian Gray isn’t so clear in this regard. On a first reading, one may assume the story to be gothic literature and only gothic literature because of the sheer amount of gothic characteristics and elements that the text presents that include, but are not limited to; byronic heroism, a dark and gloomy setting, screams or exclaims in different parts of a building or area, and death. Whilst some of these characteristics exist in both the horror and gothic genre, some of them exist prominently in the gothic, such as byronic heroism. That is not to say that byronic heroism is not found at all in the horror genre, but it is not a repeating and prominent element like it is in the gothic.

In The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde presents the theme of good versus evil side of human nature. The depths of what it means to be human is explored by Wilde with the three characters of Basil Hallward, Henry Wotton and Dorian Gary. Each character represents a different side of the conflict between morality and giving into temptation. The three characters equally represent the difference in the class structure of society.

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.

The relationships between these characters are very overwhelming and unique. One of the relationships found in this novel is between Dorian and Lord Henry. The relationship between Dorian and Lord Henry is considered to be “dark”. It is one of the strongest but unhealthy relationship since Lord Henry succeeded in influencing the innocent Dorian Gray to become a really dreadful and disgusting soul. . Lord Henry uses Dorian to amuse himself and explore his “power”. Lord Henry confused Dorian by saying “Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.” In other words, Lord Henry tells Dorian to do good and bad things at the same time that made Dorian have the urge to try both of them. Lord Henry also crafty in influencing Dorian; he tells Dorian to do bad things that he did not dare to

Dorian Gray is a 20 year beautiful young man who in the beginning of the novel has a great and lovely reputation. As the book continues an older man named Lord Henry who is known for his horrific epigrams on life twists the juvenile’s mind to endure in self-pleasure activities. Dorian begins to commit several crimes that result in the decay of his soul. These horrific actions that the character takes upon results in him making a deal with the devil and becoming a faustian legend.

To create a moral balance in the brain, one must have a good amount of self-regulation with the occasional act of self-indulgence. However, in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, both Dorian’s desires and virtues are out of balance and in conflict with themselves. Dorian’s obsession with maintaining his youth and beauty prevents him from seeing right from wrong, especially when it comes to his own morality. By committing illegal acts, having evil intentions while influencing both lovers and friends, as well as being manipulated by Lord Henry to perform immoral deeds, the audience is reminded to never truly judge a book by its cover.

Dorian Gray, the extremely handsome protagonist, attracts Basil Hallward, the artist who inspired by Gray’s beauty, painted the portrait of him. Upon first seeing Dorian, Basil “knew that [he] had come face to face with someone whose mere personality

the wide range of interpretation proves that the book is not as simple and clear as it seems. Houston begins the article describing Wilde’s focus on self realization, and the importance of an individual in the development in a society. He says that self conscious feelings and selfishness can corrupt this process of self realization. The artist to focus on here is Basil Hallward. Houston argues that Hallward’s self conscious feelings and selfish attempts to hoard Dorian, make their ways into Hallward’s work. The art that is created from this eventually leads to the corruption of Dorian as an artistic ideal. Dorian is the artistic ideal in The Picture of Dorian Gray. His stunning looks and interesting personality

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, a young painter named Basil Hallward paints a picture of his beautiful friend Dorian. After being introduced to Basil’s friend Henry, Dorian becomes distraught after he is told that while the painting will remain young and beautiful forever, he will not. Dorian begins to spend a lot of time around the lazy, hedonistic Henry which leads to his corruption.

Artists of any art form tend to use real life experiences as their muse. Oscar Wilde was no exception. In creating the story of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde used his experience of sitting in on a painting session, done by a Basil Ward. He then proceeded to comment on how it would be amazing if the painting aged while the subject of the painting did not. Throughout the novel, we notice this kind of lifestyle being lived out by Dorian and Lord Henry, but we also see how Dorian handles his conscience based on his actions. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel that, while it has its controversies over what its purpose is, is a novel that “can function as an appropriate text for a wide variety of classes” (Waldrep; Smith II 53). Despite what Wilde believed, practiced, and even the preface of the novel, Wilde wrote this novel as a lesson on morality.

The notion that art can exist for the sake of its beauty alone is the essence of aestheticism, a nineteenth-century arts movement that had a significant impact on the writings of Oscar Wilde; in particular, his enrapturing novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is an insightful narration that expresses many of the central elements of this aesthetic philosophy. Centered on the life of an attractive young man named Dorian Gray, the novel details how through the influence of others, he becomes morally depraved, and sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth. The main instigator behind the drastic transformation of Dorian’s character, is the intensely charismatic and ever cynical, Lord Henry Wotton. Easily winning over Dorian’s affections with

When the book begins, Dorian is a blank slate – naïve, youthful, and ‘unspotted from the world.’2 The beginning of his corruption is clearly marked by his introduction to Lord Henry, and ultimately, his introduction to indulgence and immorality. Lord Henry tells Dorian ‘…you are unconscious of what you really are…’ and comments on ‘…how tragic it would be…’ if Dorian was wasted.3 He also brings up the idea of indulgence and the taboo surrounding it, claiming that if a man resists temptation, his soul ‘grows sick with longing for the

The picture of Dorian Gray is a classic victorian novel that has maintained its influence through the years. To this day, it is consider to be a masterpiece that treats in a very precise way the themes of beauty and identity. The book revolves around the life of Dorian Gray and his portrait. At the beginning, when Basil Hallward, a prestigious artist, is painting the portrait of Dorian Gray, the character is presented as an innocent and beautiful guy. However, as the novel progresses, Dorian’s soul, reflected in the portrait, is corrupted mainly because of Lord Henry’s ideas and influence. In the last chapter of Oscar Wilde’s book, the protagonist, in a stressful situation, stabs his portrait and consequently dies. The message behind the ending

iniquitous beliefs of his on the unsuspecting Dorian.  He tells him "Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul," which implies for Dorian to give into his deepest wants and desires no matter how dirty or sinful they are.  He continues to spin Dorian into his web of sin by telling him that "you know less than you want to know," which makes him curious as to what other pleasures he could find in the world.  When Dorian falls in love with Sybil Vane, he tries to write her off as some poor, useless nobody who could never please Dorian's deepest desires.  He does this partly because he is jealous of his love for her, since it is made obvious that Lord Henry finds Dorian a strikingly handsome man, and partly for pleasure, to get a high off of ruining one of Dorian's attempts at redemption.  Even when Dorian goes as far as killing Basil, Lord Wotton tells him that crime is "simply a method of procuring extraordinary sensations."  It is not until Lord Henry makes this comment about how murder is not a terrible thing that Dorian begins to realize the true vastness of his sins, and in the only salvation he knows, he later goes to kill himself.  Dorian's downfall due to Lord Henry's actions teaches moral of being centered on selfishness. 

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde explores through the downfall of Dorian Gray, the ramifications that seeking a life of pleasure can have on the soul. After succumbing to the influence of Harry, Dorian’s pursuit of sensual experiences leads to an immoral life, warning the audience about the consequences of pursuing a life solely for pleasure. In my short story, I subvert the idea of Dorian being solely blamed for his iniquities, by exploring the consequences of Mr. Smith influencing Mr. Desborough’s wife. By appropriating the character of Harry into my short story, I am able to caution the audience against negatively influencing others, whilst alluding to Wilde’s novella.