`The Picture of Dorian Gray` by Oscar Wilde

The following essay will explore the character of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wilde 's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray . The idea of Dorian 's deteriorating morality will be emphasized in this essay and the juxtaposition of the character 's picture and his physical appearance will be a main component in the development of thesis of this essay The theme of morality will be a major issue in this as it is through morality that Dorian has drastically declined into his stygian state

Oscar Wilde presents the reader with a very modern

day novel , both in theme , place setting , and character development . The reader is introduced to Dorian Gray through Basil Hallward the two characters are the crux of the novel 's actions . In fact the two characters , Basil and Dorian , although equally enthralled with each other at the start of the novel , become increasingly distance as the novel progresses and as Dorian finds himself in moral turpitude through the tutelage of Lord Henry Wotton

Lord Henry looked at him . Yes , he was certainly wonderfully handsome with his finely-curved scarlet lips , his frank blue eyes , his crisp gold hair . There was something in his face that made one trust him at once All the candour of youth was there , as well as all youth 's passionate purity . One felt that he had kept himself unspotted from the world . No wonder Basil Hallward worshipped him (Chapter Two

In the first exchange between Dorian and Lord Henry , the theme of the novel , that of youth and its disappearance , brings Dorian to curse his portrait because it will only be a reminder of how beautiful and young he once was , and with this curse it is revealed to the reader how important the aspect of youth is to Dorian whose sole belief in himself rests with this characteristic . Within the theme of youth is the ultimate curse of Dorian , for it is within this context that he becomes a doomed `hero ' and therefore loses his love , his life , and in the end of the story , his youth . Thus , the item which he once treasured becomes his downfall

It is with this curse that is Dorian 's lamenting of the portraits everlasting youth , that Dorian offers his soul in exchange for the portraits youth to be transferred to him while the portrait bears the brutality of Dorian 's life . In a type of Faustian decline , Lord Henry introduces Dorian into a very debilitating lifestyle in which Dorian becomes absolutely enthralled . This new lifestyle is full of carnal pleasures and Dorian dives into it headfirst , exercising no judgment only the thrill of the moment , without regret , remorse , or reason at times (Baker 1969 . Although this may be considered to be Lord Henry 's influence , Dorian embraces this lifestyle with fervor . It is Dorian 's choice how he lives , and even though it may be considered to have been a type of brainwashing , Dorian latches onto the ideals presented by Lord Henry in that first...