The Picture Of Dorian Gray Choices Analysis

The significance of choices and what their consequences reveal for the protagonist Dorian in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. As Jean-Paul Sartre once said "we are our choices". An individual 's choices reflect who they are and what they may become. In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Dorian 's pivotal decision to strike a Faustian bargain causes him to incessantly make poor choices that eventually lead to his demise. This is illustrated through Dorian 's decision to befriend Lord Henry, become engaged to Sibyl Vane, ignore his discovery of the portraits power, and lastly his decision to murder Basil Hallward. To begin with, Dorian 's decision to befriend Lord Henry is the first choice he makes that leads to his downfall. In the first place, Lord Henry makes Dorian conscious of his own astonishing youth and beauty. This is illustrated from the first encounter Dorian has with Lord Henry; "... You have the most marvellous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having....You have a wonderfully beautiful face, Mr. Gray" (16). He later on says, "The moment I met you I saw that you were quite unconscious of what you really are , of what you really might be. There was so much in you that charmed me that

It is only shallow people who require years to get rid of an emotion ' "(79). This illustrates the callous manner in which Dorian is able to handle Sibyl 's death. He does not feel any responsibility for her suicide, nor remorse. In fact, Dorian finds it foolish to mourn for her, as he believes Sibyl 's death is her own fault. Consequently, this demonstrates that Dorian 's ability for compassion has altered significantly. He no longer feels liability for his actions and has no sympathy. This carless and selfish behaviour continues to get worst throughout the novel, which will also lead him closer to his own demise as he no longer will comprehend the magnitude of his own dreadful