Preview

Corruption In The Picture Of Dorian Gray

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
353 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Corruption In The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Throughout Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the sinful actions of Dorian cause Dorian himself as well as the portrait of Dorian to diminish. The portrait Basil paints of Dorian depicts an innocent, beautiful young boy who has yet to be corrupted by the influence of the world. However, as Dorian grows older he becomes debased by the thoughts of others and his own experiences. As the novel progresses, the reader loses sight of the innocent, pure Dorian and sees the cruel, corrupted Dorian. After Sibyl killed herself Dorian illustrates his corruption by claiming, “when she played so badly, and my heart almost broke. She explained it all to me. It was terribly pathetic. But I was not moved a bit. I thought her shallow” (96). Dorian no
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray
    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel written by Oscar Wilde in 1890. The book was written during the Victorian era, a period of time that brought Britain several changes concerning technology, science, culture, religion and others. The Picture of Dorian Gray talks about a character called Dorian Gray, who is a young and handsome man that owned a portrait of himself. An artist and friend called Basil Hallward painted it. The artwork was different from a normal painting. It showed Dorian’s physical changes through years while his physical aspects in real life were always the same without any change. Every time Dorian saw the painting, he saw his true self rather than the one he showed to society. Basil introduced Dorian to Lord Henry Wotton,…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Picture of Dorian Gray
    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Picture of Dorian Gray

    Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, was an Irish author who lived from October 16, 1854 until his death, at the age of 46, on November 30, 1900. He attended the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and the Magdalene College in Oxford, England. Mr. Wilde was an active member of the aestheticism literary movement, during his day, although he lived during the Victorian Era. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, there are many passages or episodes that hold key meanings in the book as a whole, and without them; a large amount of the underlying tones and themes would be lost. In chapter two, there is a very significant key passage that has to do with the roles of Lord Henry and Dorian Gray and how they are going to affect each other. The key passage pushes Lord Henry under the role of the victimizer and Dorian Gray as the victim.…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Picture of Dorian Gray
    • 2186 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The Picture of Dorian Gray

    What role does art play in The Picture of Dorian Gray? What are each of the three main characters' attitudes towards art? How do they think art functions in society?…

    • 2186 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Influence & Detachment in the Picture of Dorian Gray
    • 832 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Influence & Detachment in the Picture of Dorian Gray

    In Oscar Wilde’s only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, many influences are at play throughout the book. The relationships between the characters are all about the influence they have on each other’s life. However, out of them all, one of the characters stands out as a more detached figure who has mastered the art of influencing without being influenced by others himself: Lord Henry Wotton. To study the different forms of influences in the book, we shall first focus on the link between art and influence before turning to the study of the influence of Lord Henry and Basil on Dorian, to finally discuss the effect of all the influences on Dorian and debate over whether Dorian can be considered as an evil character at the end of the book.…

    • 832 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what extent is Dorian Gray a satirical novel?
    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To what extent is Dorian Gray a satirical novel?

    The Picture of Dorian Gray was written by Oscar Wilde in 1891, who himself was a key proponent of the aesthetic movement created by Walter Pater. Within the novel Wilde shows blatant contradictions and struggles within his characters, particularly those of the upper echelons of British society. Wilde parodies with great success main characters such as Lord and Henry and later on Dorian, yet also lesser characters, such as Lord Fermor.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Picture of Dorian Gray
    • 1015 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Picture of Dorian Gray

    Love Always turns tragic. The two novels “The picture of Dorian Gray” and “The great Gatsby” shows us why through the love stories they both contain in the novels, greed, as well as how it all ends in a tragedy for them both. People will always want more and never settle for what they have which is where the greed comes in play. Love is like a box of chocolates; you never know what to expect which leads us to tragedy. Tragedy will always occur as long as you don't keep to yourself. Tragic love happens a lot because of these reasons and if there is not a tragedy then there was never really love.…

    • 1015 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray Character Analysis Essay
    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray Character Analysis Essay

    Initially, Wilde describes Dorian as one who “had kept himself unspotted from the world” (18). This epithet functions as a control to drastically juxtapose and emphasize his dramatic transformation to a man of very little morality. At this point, Dorian’s unique disposition can be described as “one of tabula rasa or a blank slate” that awaits “colorful brushstrokes . . . [to] forever tarnish its originally pure image” (Seagroatt). The inciting moment of discovering Basil’s painting is equivalent to the first blemish on innocent Dorian’s canvas as he reaches the epiphany that he will eventually “grow old, and horrible, and dreadful” while his painting would “remain always young” (Wilde 28). Indeed, it is here that Dorian’s insecurity takes command of his conduct, spurring the commencement of his self-destructive quest to obtain all things…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray Literary Analysis
    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray Literary Analysis

    There are many different ways to interpret the word monster and what it means for man to be monstrous. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley exemplify this idea through the protagonists in their books. Although each book has its own interpretation on what it means to be a monster, they both demonstrate how immoral behavior and societal views contribute to man being monstrous.…

    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay
    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay

    As a person develops, they ultimately choose who they want to become. In the book The…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Characterization And Symbolism In 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'
    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Characterization And Symbolism In 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'

    Dorian Gray’s characterization illustrates the theme throughout the story. At the beginning he is a charming, innocent young man who does not care so much about his looks. He then meets Lord Henry Wotton who severely influences his views and outlook on life. Lord Henry explains to Dorian that his looks are everything. Once he loses them, he will be and have nothing. Lord Henry tells him to live life to its fullest now and do things that pleasure him because once he has lost his looks, he will no longer have the opportunity. As Dorian examines the finished portrait of himself he realizes that Lord Henry is right about his looks and becomes resentful of the painting, angry that it will continue to look youthful while he slowly deteriorates. He pledges to sell his soul in order to stay beautiful while the painting takes on his altering features. Dorian then begins to…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dorian Gray Ignorance
    • 2180 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Dorian Gray Ignorance

    Innocence is ignorant, until it gets tainted with the sweet bitter taste of reality. An extraordinary young, handsome gentleman that goes by the name of Dorian Gray will soon taste reality under a new perspective. Oscar Wilde, who is the author of “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” shows us how certain people can influence us to think and ct differently. After a brief summary of the novel will reveal that the theme mainly used is two faced. Dorian has to balance between good and bad and can’t seem to get the hang of it. You’ll see that characters are there to represent good and evil in Dorian’s life. While we analyze the author's intent of the book we will dive deeper into this spiral of uncertainty.…

    • 2180 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain the Fall from Innocence Dorian in the Picture of Dorian Gray
    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Explain the Fall from Innocence Dorian in the Picture of Dorian Gray

    Dorian Gray is innocent and inexperienced young man at the beginning of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray’s personality, however, changes throughout chapters 1-4. He begins corrupt under Lord Henry’s influence. Lord Henry starts his seduction of Dorian by saying this: “Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind, and poisons us. The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.”(Pg. 22) At this point, Dorian is like a child exposed to the hopelessness of the world and is overcome by cruelty, and that is just the reality. He is shocked by what Lord Henry says, and Basil notices a new look in Dorian’s face for the first time. Lord Henry follows Dorian to the garden, and telling him that he should value his youth and beauty. He explains that beauty is the most important and valuable thing in the world. When they get back to the studio, Dorian is overjoyed by his own beauty. Then, the extreme change in Dorian’s personality comes because of Basil’s picture. Dorian explains his sadness in seeing the beauty of the portrait. He cannot believe that he will be getting old every day, but the painting will never age. And then he is becoming increasingly angry, saying that the day he is old and ugly, he will kill himself. Basil is horrified, and blames Henry for this change in Dorian. Thus, Lord Henry’s seduction and the creation of the portrait directly relates to Dorian’s fall from innocence. (284…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dorian Gray Research Paper
    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Dorian Gray Research Paper

    Dorian’s change in personality reinforces Oscar Wilde’s idea. This is because Dorian is living a double life, and in regards to the novel elements of his good and bad side is shown. This is shown with hints in the novel and shows the cautionary tale of the novel. As his friends, such as Lord Henry attempted to “spoil” his “beautiful nature” one of his closest friend Basil was cautious this was going to turn young Dorian from good to evil. Wilde does this to show how Dorian’s lifestyle can be corrupted morally and immorally, as things such as the painting make him accomplish the things he always wanted accepting pleasures moral or immorally. In spite of this, Lord Henry threatens Dorian’s fear of the…

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Similarities Between Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

    This novel begins when Basil Hallward, a painter, is captured by Dorian Gray’s beauty and paints a work depicting Dorian in his true form. Lord Henry, a friend of Basil, claims that this piece is a masterpiece and proceeds to enlighten Dorian on some of his philosophies on life and life lost. Lord Henry explains, “When your youth goes, your beauty will go with it, and then you will suddenly discover there are no triumphs left for you” (Wilde 16). This upsets Dorian, he begins cursing his portrait, thinking that it will only remind him of days when he was more beautiful externally. Dorian finds that his painting changes by the figures of his soul and because of this, he covers it with a sheet and later stores it in an unused closet. He finds himself haunted by the depth of his soul. Dorian quickly falls in love with a woman, named Sibyl, who is a young actress. Rashly, he proposes, as he finds she is the only woman for him. As soon as Sibyl and Dorian have fallen in love, Sibyl’s acting ability diminishes, taking with it Dorian’s love for her. Dorian explains, “I loved you because you were marvellous, because you had genius and intellect…You have thrown it all away!” (Wilde 63). In Dorian’s confession, the reader discovers how shallow Dorian is. Not only is he afraid of his emotions, but he is afraid of unperfected…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Influence of Corruption in the Picture of Dorian Gray
    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages

    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.…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics