Symbols In The Picture Of Dorian Gray

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The novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde there are many Archetypical images and symbols. In this paper I will example some of these images and symbols in the novel by using the mythological and archetypical approach to literature. In the book, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature the mythological and archetypical approach critics “is concerned to seek out those mysterious elements that inform certain literary works, and that elicit, with almost uncanny force, dramatic and universal human reactions” (Guerin, Labor, Morgan, Reesman, and Willingham 182). This novel is focused on a man named Dorian. Dorian, a young, wealthy, and educated man, gets a portrait of himself painted by a man named Basil. Dorian becomes obsessed …show more content…

According to A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature describes the image of the garden as “paradise; innocence; unspoiled beauty (especially feminine); fertility (Guerin, Labor, Morgan, Reesman, and Willingham 189). In the novel, the chapter two, Dorian walks out to the garden and begins smelling the flowers. Lord Henry joins him. In the garden, they begin to speak about Dorian’s beauty. Lord Henry says “yes, Mr. Gray, the god’s have been good to you. But the gods give they quickly take away” (Wilde 24). Dorian is describe as being similar to Greek gods, demi-gods, and mythological figures in his beauty. Within the first two chapters Dorian is stated as being similar to Adonis, the beautiful young man who is adored by the Greek goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone. The garden is an interesting place for these two to have a conversation of the important of youth and beauty. The garden is a metaphor for the innocence that Dorian has before he meets Lord Henry. The garden is the place where Dorian is corrupted and his innocence about the world is lost. Dorian begins his obsession about wanting to stay young and beautiful after this conversation. After this conversation, he curses his portrait which allows him to stay youthful and …show more content…

This approach to literature reveals a deep meaning of this text. Upon a first reading of this text without this approach, a person could miss the deeper meaning of this text. I believe that using any critical approach to literature to examine the text benefits the person that is reading the

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