The Symbolism In 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'

It is interesting to note that he doesn't ask for it to show his sins, only take on his aging. The painting gets progressively more horrible throughout the story, but it is not just aging it shows, it seems to portray an awful decay. Dorian uses a mirror to compare himself to the painting (one that Lord Henry gave him) and seems to take pleasure in his corruption: "...looking now at the evil and aging face on the canvas, and now at the fair young face that laughed back at him from the polished glass. The very sharpness of the contrast used to quicken his sense of pleasure. He grew more and more enamored of his own beauty, more and more interested in the corruption of his own soul ... wondering sometimes which were the more horrible, the signs of sin or the signs of age" (Wilde 106). The use of the mirror further points out his narcissism. This is also the same mirror that he crushes under his feet the night he tries to "kill" the painting.

This quote reminds me of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde who were opposites of each other one good one bad. “he had seen the face of James Vane watching him” (204). This reminds me of A Christmas Carol and how Marley reminds Scrooge of his sins, James Vane reminds Dorian of his sins. “The thing was still loathsome” (227). The portrait of Dorian Gray is a symbol for his soul and as he did bad things his soul would grow twisted and the portrait

Oscar Wilde was a figurehead for a larger cause in the late nineteenth century. His reality crumbled under the cognitive dissonance of the high-class aristocrats and their struggle to find any reason to overthrow those who are cognizant enough to see and react to said dissonance. What are best known as the Wilde trials, consisted of using completely fictional literature as evidence to real events. Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray was a tool used to undermine Wilde’s authority and testimony about his personal romantic encounters. While the book may hold status as a revolutionary novel about exploring ideas, the Victorians did not think as much once they took a closer look. Once a popular novel about

In novels throughout history violence has been used to progress plot lines and help develop characters. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, there is a progression of violence throughout the novel that coincides with the progression of Dorian himself. Oscar Wilde uses violence to show the extent to which Dorian is wrong with his actions and the affect moral degradation plays on violence in literature. Dorian’s actions get progressively worse and escalate to a point of no redemption. Dorian progresses in the novel through his yelling at Sybil, murder of Basil, and destroyal of the painting becoming the example of what happens when someone absorbs all of the evil and vices that surrounds them.

Oscar Wilde’s The picture of Dorian Grey’s novel is about a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by Dorian's beauty and believes his beauty should not be wasted and it is responsible for a new mode in his art. Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil's, and becomes enslaved by Lord Henry's world view. He shows him a new hedonism, and suggests the only things worth following in life are beauty and fulfillment of the senses. When he realizes that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian feels a desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait that Basil has painted would age instead of him. Dorian's wish

In The Picture of Dorian Gray the main character Dorian gray was first an innocent man and role model to artist Basil Howard who represented humanity. Overtime influences, interactions, and beauty got the best of him. In The Picture of Dorian Gray Basil says “He has a simple and a beautiful nature. Your aunt was quite right in what she said of him. Don't spoil him. Don't try to influence him. Your influence would be bad” this shows how even at the very beginning Basil knew how Lord Henry would influence him in a negative way. As we read on we can see how lord Henry teaches him to only care about beauty which causes Dorian to believe beauty is the only thing that matters in life. Lord Henry was the main cause of the corruption of Dorian's soul. In the novel another quote Lord Henry says is Oh, she is better than good – she is beautiful,". This demonstrates how from the very get go he told Dorian that beauty is better than goodness. The poisonous book was another way Dorian was overtaken by the evil. In the novel it says “It was a poisonous book. The heavy odor of incense seemed to cling about its pages and to trouble the brain. The mere cadence of the sentences, the subtle monotony of their music, so full as it was of complex refrains and movements elaborately repeated, produced in the mind of the lad, as he passed from chapter to chapter, a form of reverie, a malady of dreaming, that made him unconscious of the falling day and creeping shadows.” This quote proves how the evil has already taken over him and now the book is taking over his soul. A clear piece of evidence that shows readers how the evil has really won in The Picture of Dorian Gray is the

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.

The yellow book represents how art can have a profound and horrible influence over a person. Dorian followed the yellow book as if it were his bible. Allowing him to be completely influenced by it. All of these symbols are recurring symbols in the novel.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde describes the hardships that a successful doctor suffers due to his innate tendency to act wickedly. The doctor’s duality arises from his determined desire to commit crimes while staying moral by physically creating an evil character in himself. Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray details the corruption experienced by a seemingly perfect, charming young man who transforms into a sinister individual whose soul is depicted but neglected. Dorian Gray’s duality branches from his ignorance at the extent to which he is manipulated and disfigured. Clearly, both authors engage the theme of human duality and how humans cope with it. Therefore, my research question is: How does

In the Victorian prose, The Portrait of Dorian Gray explores the idea of duality. The divided self within the character of Dorian Gray begins with his misunderstanding of his self-image, because of the influence of a portrait. Dorian’s fate and transformation connect to the painting, which leads to his downfall. The painting contains Dorian's moral decline as changes to the picture affects his life. Through the portrait, he gains an image of himself as an independent individual compared to his previous characteristics where he followed traditional Victorian standards. The sinful actions of Dorian Gray demonstrate duality, because of the self-image he gains from a portrait allowing him to live morally free until he redeems himself by

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.

Firstly, Wilde expresses hedonistic desire leading to punishment through the use of literary devices; namely symbolism and imagery. When Gray regarded Sibyl with pity and “his chiseled lips curled in exquisite disdain” (Wilde 101). Through imagery, Wilde conveys Gray’s character of cruelty wrought out by selfish desire. After that, what followed was the suicide of his lover. This reveals that living selfishly produces consequences through others. Another example can be found when Wilde uses symbolism through the picture to reveal reality of emotions. As Dorian got up to check his painting, it was “unmistakably [...] altered” (Wilde 108). The painting reflected the reality of Dorian Gray’s inner beliefs. The change in the picture is a loss of selflessness. Furthermore, his selfish desires are reflected through the picture and the change in the portrait is the consequence for doing hedonistic actions. Therefore through symbolism and

Sibyl Vane plays a symbolic role in The Picture of Dorian Gray; moreover, she plays a symbolic role in Dorian Gray’s life. This essay will explore how Sybil’s character initially influences Dorian in a positive way, giving him the motive to turn away from decadence but subsequently brings about his downfall. Recurring themes will be discussed such as the aesthetic and references will be given to show examples of Sybil’s symbolic role in his life. A summary will follow, giving a brief synopsis concluding the essays arguments.

Lord Henry highlights that ‘the gods have been good to’ Dorian but that they can ‘quickly take away’ his youth and beauty. This is added by Lord Henry’s idea that ‘Time is jealous’ of Gray’s good looks and will endeavour to make sure he does not stay that way forever. this is the first indication that everything Dorian is known for revolves around his looks and when they are gone he will be nothing but an empty shell in a world full of younger, more beautiful people. The ‘Gods’ can be a representation of Time, or that the gods control Time as it in itself is all powerful and can be ‘good’ to some and harsh towards others. This is the first glimmer of how powerful Time really is and personifies it as a jealous being that is already beginning to ‘war’ against him. However, Dorians reaction is that of ‘open-eyed and wondering’ rather than anything extreme. This is only noticed once he sees Howard’s painting, in which he exclaims that “Youth is the only thing worth having. When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself.” This sudden change from wonderment to total, unequivocal despair highlights that the art itself triggered Dorian into hating Times power, and if it had not been for Howard’s workmanship he may never have truly wanted to defeat Time. this is important as it allows the reader to see how art effects Dorian, rather than just being used as a tool to try and defeat his ‘jealous’ enemy. Art is not seemingly viewed as evil until the end of the novel, however, as Dorian describes that ‘Art does not hurt us. […]We weep, but we are not wounded. We grieve, but our grief is not bitter.’ From this view, it is clear that Dorian believes art somewhat shields us from Time and existence, however, this ironic take on arts function further develops the harshness of Time as the reason for Dorian’s death is the very thing that he thought

In Oscar Wilde’s Popular nineteenth century novel, the Picture of Dorian Gray demonstrates the importance of the aesthetic movement in Victorian England. This suggests youth and physical attractiveness is emphasized and are valuable additions to society. Therefore, what matters to Dorian, is not the internal goodness an individual possesses but the appearance they present. Consequently, Dorian is able to forget the violent acts he commits as long as he appears beautiful on the outside. Since external beauty is valued, Wilde argues that people tend to lose their individualism and conform to society’s expectations. With this in mind, Dorian gray grows more corrupt, self-centered as he focuses more on the pleasure for himself as he becomes more vulnerable to his own misgivings. He loses his individualism, because he is conforming to society’s form of asethics. I agree with Wilde’s arguement about Dorian Gray, that individuals lose their sense of idenity when conforming to society’s influence, such as in today’s beauty standards portrayed on social media, racism described through facism, and LGBTQ rights violated by intolerant individuals. (too wordy)