Dorian Gray Judgement

Along with Dorian’s moral decline, his extreme beauty also served as an influence on people’s judgment and actions, especially on Basil Hallward, a renowned painter. Early in the novel, Basil had the opportunity to paint a portrait of Dorian for which he considers his artistic “masterpiece.” In our society, art generates judgment for those who view it and similarly people are judged too. It is arguable that a person is most likely to give the benefit of the doubt to someone who is neat, clean, charming, and beautiful. The same principles apply to Dorian, which Basil clearly proves when he said;
‘At least, I can't believe them when I see you. Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face. It cannot be concealed... But you, Dorian, with your pure, bright, innocent face, and your marvellous untroubled youth— I can't believe anything against you.’ (Wilde 250)
Here Basil reveals his willingness to ignore the

Basil was brave enough to risk a new and prosperous life and said, “I shall come with you, Dorian, if you wish it. I see I have missed my train. That makes no matter… All I want is a plain answer to my question.” (Wilde, 257) Basil shows that he does not care about what happens to him and his future, he just wants to please Dorian’s requests. Basil’s blind insistence to help Dorian then turns into his own gruesome murder because Dorian blames him for painting the portrait in the first place. It is true that he could not have known the outcome of his idolatry is death. But if he could have been smart enough to see that Dorian is a lost cause and walked away as easily as he walked in, then he could have had a bright future as an artist. Had not Basil been affected by Dorian’s beauty, he could have remained a man who understood the difference between right and wrong and remained clear with his own judgment in