The Picture Of Dorian Gray Archetypes Essay

Cruelty plays a vital role in developing the plot and characters in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. Throughout the piece, many acts of cruelty are displayed from Dorian Gray and others that show truly who they are how they've developed from it. Dorian takes on a huge change in his morals and standards because of the influence taken in from others. This influence causes him to only care about his own youth and vanity, resulting in a huge change of personality. The more Dorian becomes influenced by Lord Henry and the painting, the crueler he becomes

Dorian is afflicted with this as he keeps to himself in his estate. Furthermore, without the influence of parents, as stated in the novel that he lived most of his childhood without them, he is offered no other perspective to guide him away from the negative influence from Lord Henry. But as he changes, taking in the influence Lord Henry has upon him, he acts upon his new perspectives without the help of Basil or other peers to turn him back around. This is Dorian’s fault, as he has the outlets in which to redeem himself, just as Frankenstein did, but chose to ignore them, and continued to let their attitudes and passions to get the better of their judgement through

In 1890 Oscar Wilde published the first version of « The Picture of Dorian Gray » in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. Unfortunately the story was immediately considered as scandalous due to its references of homosexual desire. The story appears to be promoting the relationship between three men; Basil, Lord Henry and Dorian Gray, whom the two men admire and fascinate about.

Some feel very strongly about what they know to be certain. Some feel certain about religion, others about love. In Oscar Wilde’s book The Picture of Dorian Gray a character, Lord Henry Wotton, says this, : “The things one feels absolutely certain about are never true. That is the fatality of Faith, and the lesson of romance” (181). The truth one knows does not always prove to be certain. Truth varies for each person and truths have been disproved throughout history. Science has also brought to light many new discoveries to everyone’s lives. Therefore, this epigram is valid and the things one feels certain about are not true.

Another theme illustrated through Wilde’s use of motifs and symbols is the theme of superficiality. The theme of superficiality can be understood as a sense of the superficial view of outer beauty that is shown in the work. It relates to the concept of remaining young, which is an important factor of what is shown in the novel. This is an important part of the novel because outer beauty plays a bigger role for Dorian, than inner beauty does. In the beginning of the novel, Lord Henry and Dorian have a conversation that focuses on the topic of youth and Dorian 's outer beauty – Lord Henry mentions the fact that Dorian has a beautiful face, and later during this conversation, Lord Henry states that: “youth is the only thing worth having…” (Wilde 23). This conversation leads Dorian to wish that he will only age in the painting, and not in reality. Wilde creates a theme of superficiality as he shows through motifs and symbols how Dorian’s sinful and horrific inner beauty becomes excused as the characters of the novel primarily superficially values Dorian’s outer beauty.

The Picture of Dorian gray is a book written by Oscar Wilde and it was published in 1880. The book was later revised by addition of more chapters and reprinted in April 1891. Dorian Gray is the main character in this book that is described as a beautiful and unspoiled male who changes his life completely by sinning and pleasure after meeting Lord Henry. Basil Hallward who is a painter develops obsession for Dorian because of his beauty whereas Lord Henry Wotton Basil’s friend influences Dorian with his theories about life, pleasure and women even though he had no intention of changing Dorian’s personality. Lord Henry’s influence in Dorian leads to his downfall. The author’s main themes are identity, influence, and experience.

In chapter one and two, Wilde begins to suggest a biblical allusion by characterizing Basil Hallward as a God figure, Lord Henry Wotton as a Satanic figure, and Dorian Gray as humanity. Basil is an artist, reflecting a Creator image and hinting at Isaiah 64:8 which says, “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” In explaining to Lord Henry about his artwork, Basil also mirrors Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them,” by remarking, “every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter" (Wilde 9). Basil explains that his creation, the painting, was created in his own likeness, establishing himself as a God figure. Likewise, Wilde strongly labels Lord Henry as a devilish character through biblical allusion. Throughout the novel, Lord Henry acts as a tempter, a corrupter, and a liar, all of which are intrinsic traits of the Devil. Often, the devil has quoted from scripture in order to twist its meaning into a lie in order to corrupt. In chapter nineteen, Lord Henry does just that by causally stating, “By the way, Dorian (…) what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose—how does the quotation run?—his

The portrait that Basil Hallward drew of Dorian Gray was significant, it was a mirror to Dorian’s soul. In the beginning, there is a slight change in the portrait, Dorian’s “expression

Everyone in the world has a role model. A role model can be a celebrity, an athlete, parents, siblings, or even a friend. A role model is a person that is idolizes and looks up to. It is a person who can deeply influence one’s life and the actions they perform. When someone influences another to do something, the following actions partly becomes their responsibility. In the novel, The Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is a scientist who studies chemistry and alchemy. Victor figures out the answer to an ageless mystery: “how to create life?” Victor creates a creature but is horrified by its grotesque appearance. Victor decides to abandon the creature, that’s when all the tragedies start happening for Victor. Victor deserves blame for the monster’s actions. In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Dorian Gray is a handsome, young male who chooses the wrong path in life involving the good and evil. Lord Henry very deeply influences Dorian Gray into this choice. In The Frankenstein, Victor, the influencer, deserves most of the blame and responsibility for the monster’s actions but in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian, the enforcer deserves most of the blame and

The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Gray shocked the moral judgments of British book critics. Some of them said Oscar Wilde deserved to be pursuance for breaking the laws guarding the common morality because the uses of homosexuality were in that time banned. This book was for that time unusual because it had a pretty serious criticism on the society from that time. The novel is about a young and extraordinarily beautiful youngster, named Dorian Gray that have promised to his soul in order to live a life of eternal youth, he must try to adapt himself to the bodily decay and dissipation that are shown in his portrait. The genre of the novel is a terror, drama, psychology, humanitarianisms, romance and paranormal components.

The theme of appearance extends further in Dorian’s life. Dorian’s outer beauty allows him to get away with almost anything, due to the fact that people equals his outer beauty to him being a good person. In reality, Wilde makes it very clear that Dorian Gray is not a good person.

Lord Henry Wotton is another influencer on Dorian Gray. He has a lot of different ideas on life and how to live it. He is a friend of Basil and is visiting with him when Dorian comes to sit for the painting. Henry stays and talks to

These three main characters had different personality that made the story more interesting. Dorian Gray was full of himself wishing to remain in youth, in return, he was willing to sacrifice his own soul and unfortunately his wish came true. Thus, this makes Dorian Gray commit all the sins he wants and only the portrait got affected as he become immortal and not aging, not a single wrinkle in his face. Second character is Lord Henry which was Basil’s friend when Dorian Gray first met him. Lord Henry enthralled Dorian Gray with his world view, which was an extreme hedonism form as he assumed that the only worthwhile life of a person spent was by pursuing beauty and satisfaction for the senses. His views, opinions and influences captivated by Dorian Gray which continuously encourages Dorian Gray into bad things. The third main character is Basil Hallward who was an artist that paints a picture of Dorian Gray and thus, becomes obsessed with him as Dorian Gray’s beauty was Basil’s art object. Basil feelings towards Dorian were left unclear, likely because in that time, those who involved in homosexual are going to be punish be society. ‘The Picture Of Dorian Gray’ book, Oscar Wilde emphasized some relationships which were Basil Hallward and Lord Henry were friends of Dorian Gray, but, as I reach to the middle pages, Basil had feelings for Dorian Gray as he even confessed to Dorian in Dorian’s

When it was published, The Picture of Dorian Gray was seen as an immoral book due to the use of the unspeakable and the moral decay it shows. But, taking into account all of Wilde’s arguments to defend the book, one must understand that this book isn’t looking to have a moral impact, but instead to free art from morality and social punishment, making society understand what aestheticism really is. Therefore, this book is neither moral nor

Throughout Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, we view the horrible actions of the main character, Dorian Gray. These actions, however, never seem to affect Dorian. We soon come to realize that this self-portrait reflects Dorian’s actions and aging process instead of Dorian and allow him to live a secret life of horrible acts. In the novel, Dorian takes full advantage of the portraits power, calling the portrait a reflection of his soul, and makes no effort to preserve his soul due to the poisonous influence from Lord Henry and his own selfishness.