Revealing the Poison in The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay

The Picture of Dorian Gray:

Revealing the Poison

In the classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray published in the Victorian period of England in 1890, a young heir, Dorian Gray, is heavily influenced by one Lord Henry Wotton which leads to the downfall and poisoning of his entire life. The Picture of Dorian Gray, captures the nature of human beauty and the harmful consequences of manipulation. Lord Henry is a character enthralled with ideas of philosophy that challenge normal societal ideas. He is a wealthy Lord who spends his time visiting with friends, attending social parties, and observing plays at the theatre. Lord Henrys obsession with Dorian leads Dorian to a life full of immoral activities such as drugs, meaningless sex, and the murder of famed artist and friend, Basil Hallward. Dorian explores these sensations as he looks to feel something real, but his entire life now revolves around his appearance and his state of self-denial. Lord Henry Wotton is perfectly right. Youth is the only thing worth having. When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself, (Wilde Chapter II) throughout the novel, Lord Henry influences Dorians decisions to be a pleasure seeker, to date only the elite, and to act in an high class manner.

Dont spoil him, (Wilde Chapter II) Lord Henry influences Dorian to dedicate his life to hedonism, or to live a life of pleasure. Dont try to influence him. Your influence would be bad, (Wilde Chapter II) Basil understands the life that Lord Henry leads and the affect he has on people besides Basil himself. In the biblical story of Adam and Eve, Dorian would be Eve and Lord Henry would be the snake that tempts Eve to eat from the forbidden tree of knowledge. Lord Henry believes in this philosophy of hedonism, but he never practices these beliefs. Dorian is unconsciously Lord Wottons student, putting into practice what he has learned from his teacher. This road brings Dorian to the East End of London, where the slum of the island lives and where it isnt a problem to find narcotics. Dorians pursuit for pleasure leads him to the use of drugs like opium. Dorian is stuck in a dark world surrounded by drugs and alcohol for years, yet he remains young and no one thinks anything different of him, there are just rumors of his actions. It is evident in the text that Lord Wottons relationship with Dorian is one that leads Dorian down a negative path. To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul; (Wilde Chapter XVI) Dorian referred to this phrase at times when his sins overwhelmed his mind and he would forget his old sins by smoking his mind into a state of oblivion to only be left with the new sin of using drugs. This way to deal with his conscience was all brought on by Lord Henry and since Dorian was so nave, he fell under the spell of Lord Henrys poisonous attitude.

One very important symbol in The Picture of Dorian Gray, is the yellow book that Lord Henry gives Dorian. It was a novel without a plot/simply a psychological study of a certain young Parisian, who spent his life trying to realizethe passions and modes of thought that belonged to every century except his own, (Wilde Chapter X) Dorians life sounds similar to these few lines describing this book. Dorian was entranced by this novel; it became his bible that he based his life on. This novel was a doctrine of hedonism, it was another way for Lord Henry to influence Dorian into a life fulfilled with pleasure. The yellow book is an example of how art can have such a strong influence on someone. Just as the beauty of Dorian influenced Basil Hallward to paint Dorians masterpiece, Lord Henrys yellow book influences Dorian not to paint or write a masterpiece, but to live a life that peeks the senses, satisfys all urges, and fulfills the absolute happiness and pleasure of one.

Dorians behavior in the novel is simply a reflection of Lord Wottons influence on Dorian that is relevant through his yellow book or the doctrine of hedonism. Pleasure is the highest good that can be conquered. Most people loved Dorian immediately, being entranced by his beauty whether they were female or male. This lead Dorian to love himself, and to be completely obsessed with pride and vanity, this is why he would sit and stare at the mirror and picture for hours. Dorian was young and harmless and Lord Henry used that to his advantage to manipulate Dorian to follow the Lords direction. Lord Henry acted as a psychologist, teaching his subject to fulfill his urges to achieve ultimate happiness. This lead Dorian to live his life through his obsession with vanity; and while on that path, Dorian divulges in lies, sex, drugs, and murder. His mind is full of emotions reflecting upon his sins, but Dorian always seems to refer to Lord Henrys words To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul. (Wilde Chapter XVI) He refers to these words because he wants to silence his thoughts and his behavior to accomplish this silence would be to drug himself into oblivion. Eventually Dorian cannot subject himself to harm any other innocent people with his beauty and intelligence. He wants to make amends for his sins but his crimes are so vast that it would take a lifetime of absolute good for Dorian to be reconciled. There was no more pleasure to be had so Dorian stabs the portrait that has Basils name on it along with Dorians curse and his past, and his life is no more. Lord Henrys influence had lead Dorian to a life of pain directed toward others like Sybil and Basil; Dorian felt his wrongs from the past when the knife entered that canvas, Dorians body crumbled like the lives he had destroyed around him. What was once a beautiful man was now the reflection of a guilty life of pleasure and what once was a portrait of an old deceitful human being was now the masterpiece of a young and innocent Dorian Gray.