The Influence of Corruption in the Picture of Dorian Gray
The Influence of Corruption in the Picture of Dorian Gray In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde demonstrates the corruption of youth by taking the initial innocence of Dorian and turning his values completely immoral under the control of Lord Henry mainly through the use of symbolism. Even though he looks as though youthful and innocent his portrait reveals his truly aging and corrupt soul, this and failure in Dorian not taking responsibility for any of his own actions is what ultimately drives him insane and leads to his death. Oscar Wilde displays this through symbolism in three different ways; “The yellow book” that Lord Henry gives him, the use of “the color white” in the novel, and the influence that society itself has on Dorian.
In the Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry gives Dorian a yellow book in which he does not disclose the name of the book to Dorian. Oscar Wilde describes the book in detail explaining that it is a French Novel that talks about rather crazy experiences “pleasure seeking” of the main character. The book slowly becomes almost like a bible to Dorian, he buys numerous copies of the novel, and surrounds his life around the book, making it his way of life. The book symbolizes the devastating influence that art can have. Also its can be seen as a warning to such people not to completely devote themselves to art.
Dorian’s transition from an innocent character to a degraded and corrupted being can be shown by the author’s use of the color white. White stands for innocence and nothingness, as it does when Dorian’s first introduced. It demonstrates the pureness of Dorian’s boyhood that Lord Henry finds so interesting. Basil calls on “whiteness” when he finds that Dorian has given up his innocence, and, as Basil can do nothing but look in horror at the once beautiful portrait now ruined, he quotes a verse from the Book of Isaiah: “Though your sins be as scarlet, yet I will make them as white as snow.” Unfortunately there was no turning
In the Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry gives Dorian a yellow book in which he does not disclose the name of the book to Dorian. Oscar Wilde describes the book in detail explaining that it is a French Novel that talks about rather crazy experiences “pleasure seeking” of the main character. The book slowly becomes almost like a bible to Dorian, he buys numerous copies of the novel, and surrounds his life around the book, making it his way of life. The book symbolizes the devastating influence that art can have. Also its can be seen as a warning to such people not to completely devote themselves to art.
Dorian’s transition from an innocent character to a degraded and corrupted being can be shown by the author’s use of the color white. White stands for innocence and nothingness, as it does when Dorian’s first introduced. It demonstrates the pureness of Dorian’s boyhood that Lord Henry finds so interesting. Basil calls on “whiteness” when he finds that Dorian has given up his innocence, and, as Basil can do nothing but look in horror at the once beautiful portrait now ruined, he quotes a verse from the Book of Isaiah: “Though your sins be as scarlet, yet I will make them as white as snow.” Unfortunately there was no turning
Cited: Wilde, Oscar The Picture of Dorian Gray. 1890. Good News Bible. Susan Lightly, ed. Birmingham: Liturgical Publications, 1954. "Victorian England." Victorian England. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm>. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Picture of Dorian Gray.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 6 Sept. 2012.