In Oscar Wilde’s classic, The Picture of Dorian Gray, he writes about the good and bad parts of eternal youth while following the story of a curious man. Wilde presents a clear theme in the novel that art is a reflection, clearly shown through the way that a painting of Dorian Gray ages as he does not. The author uses multiple literary elements to exhibit this theme, including symbolism, imagery, irony, and foreshadowing. Put together, the devices make a haunting story that teaches a strong lesson that art reflects who a person really is. First and foremost, the story has a strong use of symbolism. The painting made by Basil Hallward represents not only the true age of Dorian Gray throughout the story, but also Dorian’s conscience. When he
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Throughout the story, ironic events occur and ironic sentences are spoken. On page 58, Henry is thinking about his curiosity to know about Dorian’s meeting with Sibyl. He thinks to himself, “What matter what the cost was? One could never pay too high a price for any sensation.” This line displays irony due to the fact that Dorian essentially sold his soul to Henry for his youth. Henry then contemplates the fact that, “Dorian Gray’s soul had turned to this white girl and bowed in worship before her,” (pg. 58). This line also shows the irony about the way that Dorian sold his soul to Henry, only this shows that Henry is unhappy that Dorian’s soul is now worshipping someone else. The idea of the soul being used to show irony in the book is brought back later on, when Basil tells Dorian, “I wonder do I know you? Before I could answer that, I would have to see your soul,” and later, “...But only God can do that,” (pg.159). The satire is used to display the fact that Dorian essentially no longer has a soul. It is also shown when Dorian mocks Basil for what he said, replying that, “You shall see it yourself, tonight!...Come: it is your own handiwork,” (pg.159). He is telling Basil that his soul resides in the painting that Basil made of him, which reflects who he has now become, demonstrating the theme of the …show more content…
The author uses it over and over again throughout the story, as if to give a warning when something bad was soon to occur. The first major use of foreshadowing happened when Dorian, Henry, and Basil were leaving to go and see Sibyl act in the theater. As they are leaving, Basil thinks that, “A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been in the past,” (pg.82). This foreshadows the way that Dorian had already begun changing, and that that night was when the first real change to Dorian’s personality occurred. That night’s fight with Sibyl was what caused the first change in the painting that reflected Dorian’s conscience. Further into the story, foreshadowing is once again used to display that something dreadful was soon to occur. On page 153, as Dorian is walking home, the night is described as “cold and foggy.” When Dorian sees Basil walking past him, “A strange sense of fear, for which he could not account, came over him,” (pg.153). This creates an ominous atmosphere in the story, foreshadowing the argument that is about to happen between them, leading to Basil’s murder. Following the murder, Dorian calls upon a man by the name of Alan Campbell. While waiting for him to arrive, Dorian becomes impatient and anxious. This is shown by the way he feels that, “..Time stopped for him. Yes: that blind, slow-breathing
Throughout the story, ironic events occur and ironic sentences are spoken. On page 58, Henry is thinking about his curiosity to know about Dorian’s meeting with Sibyl. He thinks to himself, “What matter what the cost was? One could never pay too high a price for any sensation.” This line displays irony due to the fact that Dorian essentially sold his soul to Henry for his youth. Henry then contemplates the fact that, “Dorian Gray’s soul had turned to this white girl and bowed in worship before her,” (pg. 58). This line also shows the irony about the way that Dorian sold his soul to Henry, only this shows that Henry is unhappy that Dorian’s soul is now worshipping someone else. The idea of the soul being used to show irony in the book is brought back later on, when Basil tells Dorian, “I wonder do I know you? Before I could answer that, I would have to see your soul,” and later, “...But only God can do that,” (pg.159). The satire is used to display the fact that Dorian essentially no longer has a soul. It is also shown when Dorian mocks Basil for what he said, replying that, “You shall see it yourself, tonight!...Come: it is your own handiwork,” (pg.159). He is telling Basil that his soul resides in the painting that Basil made of him, which reflects who he has now become, demonstrating the theme of the …show more content…
The author uses it over and over again throughout the story, as if to give a warning when something bad was soon to occur. The first major use of foreshadowing happened when Dorian, Henry, and Basil were leaving to go and see Sibyl act in the theater. As they are leaving, Basil thinks that, “A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been in the past,” (pg.82). This foreshadows the way that Dorian had already begun changing, and that that night was when the first real change to Dorian’s personality occurred. That night’s fight with Sibyl was what caused the first change in the painting that reflected Dorian’s conscience. Further into the story, foreshadowing is once again used to display that something dreadful was soon to occur. On page 153, as Dorian is walking home, the night is described as “cold and foggy.” When Dorian sees Basil walking past him, “A strange sense of fear, for which he could not account, came over him,” (pg.153). This creates an ominous atmosphere in the story, foreshadowing the argument that is about to happen between them, leading to Basil’s murder. Following the murder, Dorian calls upon a man by the name of Alan Campbell. While waiting for him to arrive, Dorian becomes impatient and anxious. This is shown by the way he feels that, “..Time stopped for him. Yes: that blind, slow-breathing