ipl-logo

The Picture Of Dorian Gray Archetypes Essay

890 Words4 Pages

Picture of Dorian Gray Archetypes Most novels follow the general archetypes when it comes to its characters, and The Picture of Dorian Gray is no exception. Oscar Wilde uses various archetypical characters to send a message, especially about the power of influence. In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Basil Hallward embodies the archetype of the mentor to show the power of good influence, while Lord Henry embodies the archetype of the devil figure to show the power of bad influence and temptation. The mentor’s role in a novel is to serve as the counselor and teacher of the hero. They often serve as a father-figure, much like how Basil is a father-figure to Dorian. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian is the “hero” of sorts, but he is originally guided by Basil, who is the mentor. Basil gives Dorian advise to use his beauty and popularity for good, and not mess with the evil path of temptation. Dorian has to make a decision between good and evil, which for him is between being a moral person and living a life of pleasure. Basil tells Lord Henry that Dorian “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 …show more content…

The mentor, Basil tries to use his influence over Dorian to keep him away from a life of sin and pleasure. The devil figure, Lord Henry uses his influence to get Dorian to follow a life of pleasure, and uses the yellow book to reinforce that. Wilde shows that bad influence overtakes good influence, as the bad influence Dorian is under corrupts him and leads him to kill the good influence in his life, Basil. Dorian is so corrupted by the bad influence that it leads to his ultimate destruction. Wilde’s end message is that bad can overtake the good, but it will still lead to a character’s downfall in the

Show More
Related

  • The Theme Of Superficiality In Dorian Wilde, By Oscar Wilde

    1108 Words  | 5 Pages

    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…”

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Quotes Analysis

    671 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foil: The contrast between Basil Hallward’s sincere care for Dorian and Lord Henry’s ill-motivated friendship with Dorian emphasizes Basil’s kind nature and Lord Henry’s slyness. This is clearly revealed in their differing reactions to news that Dorian has been engaged to a Sibyl Vane, a young actress. Basil expresses his concerns of the quickness of this engagement and the effect it may have on Dorian’s reputation while Lord Henry is merely amused as, to him, Dorian is a “subject made to his hand that…seemed to promise rich and fruitful results” (58). 23.

    Read More

  • Dorian Gray And Frankenstein Comparison

    1152 Words  | 5 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Religion In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    756 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Social Commentary In The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde

    1121 Words  | 5 Pages

    Wilde writes about it being “perfectly charming”. The chapter then is corrupted by Lord Henry's influence on page 17. This structure of chapter continues through the first 10 chapters and then shifts to fill a more gothic idea. The setting becomes more ominous with the environment having blinding “fog” (Wilde 147) and the “cold rain”(Wilde 184). As corruption is about to take over Dorian's life he becomes blinded by the “lovely night” and environment again.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Corruption In The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    725 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dorian is a young man who is not yet fully formed in his thinking and has a very handsome appearance. Basil is instantly taken with him and finds that he wants Dorian all to himself. The way Basil influences Dorian isn 't through words but rather through his actions. He idolizes him.

    Read More

  • Cruelty In 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'

    760 Words  | 4 Pages

    Right at the start of the story Basil Hallward, who is somewhat obsessive over the young and beautiful Dorian Gray, decides to paint a portrait in his praise. Unbeknownst to Basil, Dorian had been speaking to Lord

    Read More

  • Dorian Gray Good Vs Evil Essay

    997 Words  | 4 Pages

    Basil attempts desperately to lead Dorian to decency, to hold onto the perfect image of Dorian, being the one and only force of goodness in his life. He cannot accept the reality of Dorian’s actions after being influenced by Lord Henry. Basil’s good nature can be seen through the fact that he never loses faith that Dorian can change his ways and become the innocent, naïve boy he once painted and loved unconditionally. This goodness backfires after Dorian kills Basil. He had reached a point in his life in which he had lost his consciences and his corruption was out of control.

    Read More

  • The Picture Of Dorian Gray Moral Analysis

    873 Words  | 4 Pages

    From the beginning of the novel we get to see a model of poor and unconventional morality, Lord Henry Wotton, a man who is moved by an ethic current called “New Hedonism” which taking into account society’s ethics (specially the ones from the Victorian Era) is quite immoral. The New Hedonism basically consists in looking for the individual’s best comfort, pleasure and happiness (based on beauty), leaving aside the other’s comfort and what should be morally done. This character with poor morality is who guides the book’s main character Dorian Gray along his adventure. However, it is vital to take into account the fact that Dorian Gray is never forced to follow New Hedonism and that Wilde never influences or invites the reader to follow New Hedonist

    Read More

  • Influence In The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    2219 Words  | 9 Pages

    Influence in The Picture of Dorian Gray And The Book of Job 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.

    Read More

  • The Picture Of Dorian Gray Literary Criticism

    750 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dorian Gray is a handsome, narcissistic young man enthralled by Lord Henry 's new enjoyment. He satisfies in every pleasure of moral and immoral life ultimately heads to death. Henry tells

    Read More

  • Theme Of Appearance In Dorian Gray

    937 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the portrait significantly becomes more hideous, Dorian gradually loses his mind. The reader understands that what eventually leads Dorian to kill Basil Hallward, the only true friend he has, is the constant reminder of the evil found at the heart of Dorian’s nature, as represented by the portrait. In Dorian doing so, the reader realises that not only does Dorian kill Basil, he also kills his only chance of redemption of his soul. The reader realises that the statement that Dorian had expressed earlier in the story was the truth: “Yes, Basil could have saved him. But it was too late now.”

    Read More

  • Gothic Elements In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    1215 Words  | 5 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Double Life In The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    828 Words  | 4 Pages

    The double standard can be depicted in image changing, in lavish lifestyles, and in superficial happiness. Dorian Gray, the protagonist in the novel, lives a superficially stable double life. The portrait that Basil Hallward, Dorian’s artist and friend, created for Dorian caused a self-image imbalance. The portrait was young and juvenile, while Dorian was soon to grow old and immoral. Thus causing a mental epiphany that made Dorian realize he could not have his fellow peers discover he is not innocent.

    Read More

  • The Picture Of Dorian Gray Character Analysis Essay

    829 Words  | 4 Pages

    He even further proves his evil soul when he murders Basil without even thinking minutes later. Dorian had turned from harsh and selfish to a murder. Dorian Gray starts off as a harsh person who thinks about repairing his mistakes, but transitions to a selfish murderer who seeks pleasure, all because of Lord Henrys poisonous words. Dorian Gray ruined countless lives throughout the book and goes from breaking hearts and causing suicides, to killing his good friend Basil Hallward. As a result of Lord Henry’s influence, he begins to think only about himself and for his own benefit and pleasure and nothing of anyone else.

    Read More

More about The Picture Of Dorian Gray Archetypes Essay

Open Document