Beauty And Beauty In The Picture Of Dorian Gray, By Oscar Wilde

998 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The problem with society beauty

Throughout The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, the idea of BEAUTY being the most important aspect of being human, this idea leads to the corruption of an innocent soul. As a matter of fact, this idea being put into the innocent mind can be blamed on one character, Lord Henry. Dorian’s “friend”, Lord Henry drills this idea, beauty over everything, into Dorian’s mind. Being obsessed with psychology, Lord Henry sees his friends as playthings for his social experiments, exploiting the vulnerability found in human nature. Lord Henry’s forwardness with his views on topics and pushing his opinions onto other people causes the corruption and downward spiral of Dorian Gray’s outlook on his world. Lord Henry has many opinions on the world and what he thinks about …show more content…

Throughout the book Lord Henry constantly changes his view on events depending on the person he is addressing. Wanting to be liked by both Basil and Dorian he says to Basil “Genius lasts longer than Beauty” (9). Even though Lord Henry seems to stick by this saying he later on says, “Beauty is a form of Genius- is higher, indeed, than genius.” (16) when speaking to Dorian. Making this small change, his opinion on his view on of beauty and genius he can easily persuade Dorian to believe that beauty is the most important aspect of being alive, and without beauty life is nothing. Lord Henry exploits the fact that Dorian is gullible and narcissistic. Due to Lord Henry’s continuous influence upon Gray, Lord Henry speeds up the eroding of Gray’s soul. Lord Henry makes Dorian a selfish, shallow shell of a man. Worrying the future of his beauty and only making decisions that his beauty will benefit from, Dorian drives people away and becomes inconsiderate for others. After a long talk with Lord Henry, Dorian reflects on Henry’s words he

Show More
Related

  • Nurture In Frankenstein

    1412 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lord Henry becomes a monster through his interaction with Dorian Gray. The critic Liebman provides an interesting way to look at Lord Henry in The Picture of Dorian Gray: “Henry is, first, a scientist and an intellectual, whose most outstanding trait is his curiosity” (Liebman). Similar to Victor Frankenstein, Lord Henry wishes to know about the human soul and human nature. Liebman continues: “‘a complex personality,’ like Dorian's, gives him an opportunity to examine the human species in its natural habitat” (Liebman). When The Picture of Dorian Gray is viewed in this lens, it seems that Lord Henry’s intent is poison Dorian’s belief system to see how much a pure, innocent man can change. Basil warns Lord Henry about how vulnerable Dorian is: “Don't spoil him. Don't try to influence him. Your influence would be bad” (Wilde 23). Henry knows what he is doing, which makes him accountable for Dorian’s descent into derangement. When Henry plants seeds of immorality in Dorian’s mind, Dorian almost can’t help but become a monster. Lord Henry causes Dorian Gray to shift from “a simple and beautiful nature”(Wilde 23) to having “no heart” and “no pity” (Wilde 128). Lord Henry is at fault because he intentionally created a monster, and although he didn’t intend to hurt anyone, he started a cycle of violence that ended with several dead, including

    Read More

  • Dorian Gray Vs. Frankenstein

    2002 Words  | 5 Pages

    “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is a novel written by Oscar Wilde. The story takes place in England, where the artist Basil Hallward paints a portrait of the young and beautiful Dorian Gray. During his stay at the artist’s studio, he gets introduced to Lord Henry who later becomes one of the most influential people in his life. Dorian Gray becomes aware of his amazing beauty and youthfulness due to the portrait and wishes that the portrait ages instead of him. His wish comes true, Dorian remains beautiful and youthful while the portrait changes. Lord Henry becomes his best friend and motivates him to live in abundance, to sin and always strive for beauty. After a while, Dorian discovers that his portrait doesn’t only age, but also changes face expression as a result of all his sins and evil deeds. Dorian gets anxious by the fact that the portrait shows his evil soul and is scared that somebody will see it, therefore he hides it. The portrait haunts Dorian although it’s hidden. As Dorian’s sins gets worse, he feels that he can’t handle the pressure anymore and decides to destroy the portrait that shows his true self.

    Read More

  • Use of Floral Imagery and Symbolism in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray

    2716 Words  | 6 Pages

    Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is, at first glance, a novel about a young, handsome man’s demise as he travels into a world of self- indulgence, immorality, and evil. Though the predominant motif of beauty versus ugliness is the main take-away point, Wilde’s use of symbols, particularly flowers cannot go unnoticed. From characterization to depicting religious allusions, flowers are frequently used in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Clearly, the novel’s use of roses, orchids, lilacs, and the like has an underlying meaning, which will be explored and analyzed in this essay.

    Read More

  • Homosexuality in Wilde's Picture of Dorian Grey

    358 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although Wilde halts short of stating that Basil and Lord Henry have sexual feelings for Dorian , the language he uses to describe their devotion for Dorian is unmistakably the language of deep, romantic intimacy. “Tell me more about Mr. Dorian Gray. How often do you see him?”. “Every day. I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him everyday. He is absolutely necessary to me”. This common motif of homoerotic bonds between men plays a large role in structuring the novel. Basils painting is born from his adoration of Dorians beauty , comparatively Lord Henry is overcome with desire to seduce Dorian. This sense of camaraderie between men fits into Wildes aesthetic values, for it returns him to his past where the philosophy of beauty was not only the basis of society but fundamental to culture. As a homosexual living in an intolerant society, Wilde asserted this philosophy in order to justify his own lifestyle.

    Read More

  • Essay on Picture of Dorian Gray: Dorian as Tragic Hero

    2335 Words  | 5 Pages

    In "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, we see a beautiful young man who makes tremendous efforts to transform the actual world into the idealistic world of art, dreams and sensations.  Dorian's quest, however, culminates in his ultimate tragic destruction. Given that Dorian lives a corrupt life, one is likely to focus on the negative aspects of his character.  In spite of his significant character flaws, Dorian Gray may still be considered a hero.  This essay will examine Dorian's degradation from the innocent world to the vicious, sensation-oriented world.  The elements contributing to Dorian’s status of tragic hero will then be discussed.

    Read More

  • Gothic Elements in The Picture of Dorian Gray

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oscar Wilde`s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray is written primarily out of the aesthetic movement of the Nineteenth Century. Therefore, the text contains a profuse amount of imagery which reflects the concepts of beauty and sensory experiences. By taking the aesthetic approach, Wilde was able to revive the gothic style through grotesque imagery of the portrait and the character whose soul it represents. Wilde is not using gothic elements to shock his audiences; rather he uses the gothic to capture the hideousness of Gray`s corruptness which leaks out of the painting and into the tone of the entire text.

    Read More

  • Picture of Dorian Gray: Influence, Corruption and Conscience

    3042 Words  | 7 Pages

    Basil Hallward, a painter, knows the corruptive influence that Lord Henry can impose upon his model, Dorian Gray. Basil does not want Lord Henry to even meet Dorian because he is afraid that Dorian will be influenced and ruined. Basil begs Henry by saying, "Don't spoil him. Don't try to influence him. Your influence would be bad. The world is wide, and has many marvelous people in it. Don't take away from me the one person who gives to my art whatever charm it possesses: my life as an artist depends on him" (Wilde 10). Right from the beginning Wilde begins to show what type of person Lord Henry is. Lord Henry's influences pose a threat to Dorian. Basil is well aware of this.

    Read More

  • Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray

    2260 Words  | 5 Pages

    In this novel, Oscar Wilde displays Dorian’s moral corrosion negatively in order to convince his audience of the detrimental effects of aestheticism. As Dorian descends deeper into the depths of his depravity, the audience loses faith in him. His innocent, childlike and charitable qualities, seen in his philanthropy and petulance when he is first introduced, are lost, and he acts cruelly and selfishly. For example, when his lover, Sibyl Vane, performs on stage and fails to meet Dorian’s expectations, Wilde fashions Dorian’s reaction to be callous and bitter to her so that the reader sympathizes with Sibyl.

    Read More

  • The Picture Of Dorian Gray Theme Essay

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde readers are presented with a vast depiction of the art of immorality in the face of ignorant innocence portrayed by the character Dorian Gray. In the beginning it seems to be a quaint novel on artistry and the paradoxical relationship between two lifelong friends by the name of Basil Hallward and Lord Henry. The plot takes a surprising twist when introduced to the real center of attention, the character of the seemingly innocent Dorian Gray. Upon this introduction Wilde then begins to tell the tale of what a life of secrecy and deception will lead to without the consciousness of a moral threshold and the inescapable burden of Dorians horrid accumulation of sins. The deception begins with a simple shout out to the heavens for the impossible to be granted. This then flourishes into unspeakable acts caused by an Egyptian statue, bringing misfortune to Dorian Gray by giving him exactly what he so desperately desires, thus teaching the world a lesson. Not everything we so strongly desire the world to provide is good for the soul.

    Read More

  • Beauty in The Picture of Dorian Gray

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, beauty is depicted as the driving force in the lives of the three main characters, Dorian, Basil and Lord Henry. Dorian, the main character, believes in seizing the day. Basil, the artist, admires all that is beautiful in life. Lord Henry, accredited ones physical appearance to the ability of achieving accomplishments in life. Beauty ordains the fate of Dorian, Basil, and Lord Henry. The novel embodies the relationship of beauty and morality. Beauty is not based on how attractive an object is to everyone, but how attractive it is to one.

    Read More

  • How Did The Yellow Book Influence Dorian Gray

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Dorian Gray slowly becomes more influenced by things and people around him. Eventually, Lord Henry gifts him with a book describing a wealthy man’s pursuit of aesthetically and sensually pleasing items. “The yellow book” has a much stronger effect on Dorian Gray’s perception of beauty than Lord Henry Wotton does. Although it can be argued that Lord Henry introduced Dorian to the idea of aestheticism, the “yellow book” drives Dorian to live a life full of it, and changes his focus. Dorian shows the fact that he is not strongly influenced by Lord Henry through his interactions with Sibyl. Contrary to this, Oscar Wilde illustrates the substantial influence the yellow book has on Dorian by one, the

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Art In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray

    1881 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray reads a yellow book given to him by mentor-friend, Sir Henry Wotton. In the years after reading the book, Dorian Gray transforms from the pure and innocent young man he was into a two-faced immoral man. The reason behind the Dorian's degradation is never explicitly mentioned in Wilde's novel, which begs the question of whether literature has the ability to degrade a person. The influence of literature has the potential to corrupt one’s mind, but whether it does is dependant on the state of the reader.

    Read More

  • Essay on The Picture of Dorian Gray as a Moral Book

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Picture of Dorian Gray was a remarkably well-written book due to the reaction of its themes by society.  In the preface of the novel, Wilde introduces the opinion that "...there is no moral or immoral book.  Books are well written or badly written.  That is all."  Numerous views can be taken upon this fastidious comment.  Many would agree that Wilde is justifiably correct because the preface was written with the intention that his readers understand the deeper meaning of the themes than worrying about whether it is considered morally acceptable; or perhaps, the view that it could be considered moral or immoral by the impact it has on the readers' lives.  Even though there are several positions held on what The Picture of Dorian Gray's most important meaning is about, the most prominent is the novel as a moral book.  Lord Henry Wotton immediately begins to corrupt Dorian's mind after they first meet by forcing his immoral thoughts of "yielding to temptation" which allows Lord Henry to hold his attention.  After listening for quite a while to Lord Henry's views, Dorian begins to change his own to match them, and therefore begins to live a life of immorality.  The yellow book is a device that Lord Henry uses to further corrupt and drive Dorian deeper into the pits of sin.  Through Lord Henry's influence, the changes in Dorian Gray, and the impact of the yellow book, Oscar Wilde efficiently reveals The Picture of Dorian Gray as a moral book.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Lord Henry in The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

    2392 Words  | 5 Pages

    In analyzing Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, concepts such as influence and the origin of evil in Dorian Gray play an exceptionally valuable role in understanding the motives of the characters. Although some critics argue characters such as Lord Kelso significantly influence Dorian’s corruption, Lord Henry Wotton’s toxic personality undeniably impacts Dorian the most. Throughout the course of the novel, Lord Henry remains the ultimate source of evil and uses deception and persuasion to poison Dorian from a naïve boy to a destructive monster.

    Read More

  • The Relationship between Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    To avoid getting hurt, he pretended to be Lord Henry: decadent, cynical, eloquent, rebellious, and a bit evil in the eyes of bluenoses. Dorian Gray is what he would like to be: be loved, taste all the beauties and exquisite in life and die for what he wants to defend. In this novel, Wilde portrays his philosophy of "aesthetic idealism." He favored nature when it was explained as an internal individualistic impulse, just like Lord Henry who suggests that beauty is the greatest good and doing so diminishes the role of the soul. He does this out of a half-facetious, half-earnest pursuit of that which is more genuine, less socially constructed and therefore less hypocritical.

    Read More

More about Beauty And Beauty In The Picture Of Dorian Gray, By Oscar Wilde

Open Document