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Lord Henry's Influence On Dorian Gray

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Lord Henry's Influence On Dorian Gray
In this novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry has a huge impact on Mr. Gray. Not the type of way a parent has an influence on a child, but in a more cynical way. Dorian Gray started his life in London by meeting Basil and Lord Henry. Basil was trying to bring out the good in Dorian, but that got him killed. On the other hand Lord Henry was Dorians best friend. To me Oscar Wilde was a lot like Lord Henry. Oscar Wilde was rich, loved the newest fashions, and fit in perfectly well in the English society. Oscar Wilde was homosexual at this time. He actually got arrested for it. What happened though was that being gay was frowned upon in the society. Wilde was married and had two children, but that didn’t stop him from coming out of the closet. His significant other was way younger and had a beautiful face. This was Lord Alfred Douglas. Their affair was out in the open and …show more content…
When Dorian and Lord Henry first meet sparks are flying around Lord Henry. He’s not homosexual but he sees a person he can have some fun with. To Lord Henry, now a days in English society, youth and wealth is the only thing worth having. If you are pretty you already have a foot in the door. This is just who Lord Henry is as a character, and to him Dorian is eye candy. Lord Henry sees pleasure in Dorian. How much can Lord Henry corrupt innocent Dorian Gray? It’s one giant game for Lord Henry.
All in all, Lord Henry based from comments he makes throughout the book is a corrupt person himself. The way he runs his life and his morals can corrupt other people. Used to be innocent Dorian Gray was corrupt to the core. To Lord Henry the only way to make life fun is by toying with other people. That the only way to live in the English society is to play games. Sometimes that can catch up with you. But it doesn’t for Lord Henry. He stays the same old conniving
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