Much may not know, but paintings represent who a person truly is. In the book, The Picture of Dorian Gray the main character Dorian's portrait, in particular, encompasses his very being. All of his sins and all of his misdoings were being represented on the canvas. Thus meaning that the portrait went through a metamorphosis of changes. From the sweet Dorian in the beginning of the story. All the way to the putrid parasitic Dorian in the end. The portrait changes every time Dorian sins. This was depicted every time Dorian did an ill deed. Although he was not the one thinking for himself. He is inadvertently influenced to sin by the sweet honeyed words of a character in the book named Lord Henry. What Dorian does not know is that his ideas …show more content…
Tried to reach out and assist his former muse the best way he could. When meeting back with Dorian Basil was happy to see that Dorian had kept his youthfulness. Unfortunately, Dorian had changed way too much in personality. He had become a new person. When Basil saw the painting, he was shocked. Dorian became enraged and told Basil that he was the one that painted the picture that held his youth. There was not any youth at all instead the portrait showed how old and sinister Dorian had become. He soon became hostile towards Basil. Minutes later Basil's body was found laying on the ground with knife wounds protruding throughout. Dorian had just killed Basil in cold blood. His dead body and rotting corpse would alarm his servants. He blackmails one of his friends into disposing of the body with his knowledge of chemistry. He turns back at the picture and sees that now the picture had become even more putrid than before. This encounter with the Portrait identifies Dorian even more as he seems to be falling apart on the inside but keeping to together on the outside. Instead of leading someone to their death, this time, he was the one that dealt the final blow. Not to mention he was the very man that made the portrait for him. Basil did love Dorian with all his heart, but he came out to be someone completely changed after listening to the words of Henry. Now that Basil was dead Dorian will never be able …show more content…
He had done so much mischief and schemes during is the time in youth that there was no turning back. The portrait smiled back at Dorian mocking him for even trying to change his fate. Once again Dorian gets enraged and picks up a knife. He with all his heart he thought could turn his life back around. Without this portrait constantly reminding him of all the misdeeds he had done throughout his life. He stabbed the portrait and within doing that a loud scream came from the hidden room. His servants found the room to only find a decrepit old wrinkly shaped body on the floor and the portrait of their young master on the wall. Now to elaborate why Dorian was changed bag to his former self. What he had done was taken, his soul out of the portrait. Which means that the portrait no longer bears the burden of showing Dorian his true self. This is quite odd that the metamorphosis throughout this story goes from butterfly to ugly caterpillar, back to butterfly. He truly, in the end, wanted to repent for his sins, but from all the things he had done. There just was not going to be a chance for Dorian to redeem himself. After following Henry words he had become a monster. Only if he ignored Lord Henry like everyone else he would have fallen in love with Sibyl had gone a different route with his life. Though he made the wrong decisions he had the right intentions in the end. As for Basil
“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.
Dorian murdered Basil after showing him the painting. Basil was trying to save Dorian’s soul by begging him to confess his sins. Dorian flew into a rage and stabbed Basil, afterwards “he felt strangely calm” (Wilde 152). He justified his actions by saying that Basil was “the friend who had painted the fatal portrait to which all his misery had been due” (Wilde 152). Then Sibyl Vane’s brother, James Vane, came to get revenge on Dorian Gray and ended up dying when Dorian distracted a gunman during a hunt.
Basil goes to speak to Dorian to tell to him of the rumors they have been spreading. Many people believe him to be immoral and a corrupting influence that must be avoided to keep one’s good name. Hearing such rumors trouble Basil because he worships Dorian so strongly and is so devoted to him. He even refuses to exhibit the portrait of Dorian, the imitation he made, “Because, without intending it, I have put into it some expression of all this curious idolatry.” (13 Wilde) Basil feared that the world would be able to tell how much he adored Dorian. Continuing his conversation, Basil claims “but you, Dorian with your pure, bright, innocent face, and your marvelous untroubled youth—I can’t believe anything against you.” (127 Wilde) Which is to say that Basil believes that when one commits sin it changes the man’s outward appearance, corrupting him and since Dorian is beautiful he is without sin...
... at the angel in him. No one had any idea that Dorian possessed so much evil until the picture preached his soul, thus showing that they did not truly know Dorian until they discovered both sides of him.
Dorian also has close to no morals. Especially morals of his own, only being influenced by Henry. The looks of Dorian are truly what deceive people to believe that Dorian is a great person. Lord Henry at the end of the movie, exclaims “Heaven forgive me.” He shouts this because he wants to be forgiven of when Dorian, basically, told him that he killed Basil, and Lord Henry laughed it off because he didn't believe it, and Lord Henry knows, that he is the only one that could have helped any of this really, since all of his words, are what influenced Dorian as a
After many years of seeing the picture that was once perfect decay and become hideous, he is eventually driven mad. Just before murdering him, Dorian expresses to Basil, “I was wrong. It has destroyed me.” (Wilde, Pg. 204). By the end of the book The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde’s writing gives Dorian a certain conviction that is commonly known as a “come to Jesus” moment. However, this conviction ultimately drives Dorian to destroy the picture which ends in his own death.
In the beginning of the book, Dorian seems to be an innocent, charming, beautiful young man, and even referred to as “a wonderful creation” (ch 2). Dorian is described as this amazing person, with looks comparable to a God, charm that could swoon any woman, and a mesmerizing persona about him with the ability to draw anyone near, yet he seems to be so imperceptive to himself. His attitude of simplicity causes readers to be fond of him, passing their first judgments that he could not possibly be evil. As the story moves along readers see the first inkling that Dorian may not be so perfect. Dorian comments on “how sad it is…[that he] shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But the picture will remain always young” (ch 2). This statement lets readers inside Dorian’s thoughts, showing how shallow and frivolous Dorian views life to be. He places so much value and esteem on looks alone, forgetting that being painted should be an honor, or at the very least...
Moreover, his first sin being the starting point of his inevitable future after meeting the infamous Lord Henry is Dorians introduction to his own beauty. As a result, his vanity is displayed through his self portrait
The portrait of Dorian Gray represents his inner beauty. The longer Dorian Gray stays beautiful on the outside the worse his personality gets. That’s why the portrait becomes so ugly in the end that Dorian had to destroy it.
During this time an artist was seen as an important figure to society because he was able to visually create and give meaning to beautiful things, which was considered art. Art and beauty became correlated this way. Sometime it is thought that artwork has to be significantly beautiful to be considered art. Basil believes that he has created his one and only master piece, which is the picture of Dorian Gray. He sees so much of himself in the art that becomes insecure about his masterpiece. In Victorian times the artist was always more important than the artwork because of what he could possibly represent in the eyes of society as an artist. This allowed Basil to become insecure about his artwork, he did not want to be judged based off of his artworks that he put some much of himself into; artistically and intelligently. This is the reason he becomes too reluctant to exhibit his artwork, “I know you will laugh at me,” he replied, “but I really can’t exhibit it. I have out too much of myself into it.” (6). This statement by Basil shows his insecurities and afraid of judgement as an artist. it also depicts that he is very concerned with the reaction and judgements of others because he tells Lord Henry his reason for not wanting to exhibit his painting Dorian, which he becomes very drawn and attracted to. Basil pushes Victorian gender roles by showing
trading his soul for his youth, Dorian rids of the good inside of himself. The
Dorian first meets Basil, who values Dorian’s beauty so much that he is Basil’s muse for art, his way of living. Basil wants to cherish Dorian forever, and wants to keep him all for himself. Additionally, at first, he cherishes Dorian’s beauty more than he does his personality. As an artist, Basil is completely enamored by Dorian’s beauty, and he says, “what the invention of oil-painting was to the Venetians, the face of Antinous was to late Greek sculpture, and the face of Dorian Gray will some day be to me” (Wilde 12). Dorian’s beauty is greatly appreciated by Basil, and he is the one who makes Dorian realize his beauty and charms.
Dorian Gray's life is dictated by his physical appeal. His beauty lies within his youth. Dorian's perception of beauty allows him to love. He is convinced that his beauty allows him to accomplish anything he desires regardless of the consequences and still be loved by his friends. He uses his beauty to mitigate his evil actions. Dorian says, “I don't wish to know anything about them. I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself don't interest me. They have not got the charm of novelty.” Youth and beauty are the most precious things to Dorian. In his life, beauty is of utmost importance. Then he sees the picture of himself, painted by Basil, absorb his sins and this changed his view. “I hope it is not about myself. I am tired of myself tonight. I should like to be somebody else,” Dorian said. He aspired to have had a good life rather than one filled with artificial meaning and beauty. The moral beauty of Doran lies within the portrait of himself. The portrait imitated his life. He finally realized that beauty cannot help him escape his evil actions. He deeply lamemted his wish that the portrait bore the burden of his age an...
Basil wants Dorian to go back to his old ways. It is at this point that the reader can see that Dorian is actually being affected by his conscience, something that has not been seen in him since the beginning of the book. It is at this point that Dorian begins to go back to how he was before and feels the need to reform. However, Dorian is unable to accept how drastically he himself has changed, and attempts to excuse it. This can be seen when Dorian cries, “Each of us has heaven and hell in him, Basil.” Dorian is showing despair, proving that he realizes that he understands that he has committed many sins and thrown away his life, but still wants to explain it away. Despite this, Dorian attempts to shock Basil by showing how drastically his painting has changed to reflect what Dorian has done. However, Basil instead prays for Dorian and shows him love, which Dorian cannot accept. Dorian kills Basil, but realizes that he has made a mistake. He starts trying to reform in order to get rid of the ugliness of the picture and return it to how it was
Throughout the novel, Dorian encounters and is entrapped by the temptation of evil and falls victim to the words that changed and ended his life. He allowed the fantasy of youth to control him, the obsession to engulf him and the hatred to destroy him. Although Dorian ultimately kills himself with the knife that is stained with Basil’s blood, the influence of words alone proved to be the weapon that dealt Dorian his demise.