The Dynamic Character In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray

In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Dorian Gray, a handsome young man, has his portrait painted by Basil Hallward, a respected artist among the community. When realizes his beauty is only going to last for so long, he expresses out loud how he wishes it was the painting that ages instead of him. When he learns that his wish has become true, his actions become more sinister and his morals lose their importance. Dorian Gray is a dynamic character that goes through several changes throughout the book. In the beginning, he is naïve and full of curiosity however, as the book progresses, he becomes someone full of wicked intentions. This change has not been solely because of his character. Dorian Gray’s vanity and the negative …show more content…
Lord Henry has a tremendous impact on Dorian and their first meeting already changes him completely. When they first met, Lord Henry begins to fill Dorian’s mind with his theories and beliefs. Dorian is intrigued and somewhat astonished that someone could think in a way so complex. Dorian feels as though Lord Henry “had touched some secret chord that had never been touched before” (Wilde 20). He listens to every word he says and soaks it up like a sponge. Lord Henry talks about the importance of taking advantage of your youth and how you have to use your body before it is weak and useless. Dorian decides has to live life before he becomes ugly and no longer has the wonderful life inside him, like Lord Henry has …show more content…
He begins to believe that the only use for life is to use up your youth and to live your life to the fullest. Once you start getting old, you have no more meaning to live. This is the spark that leads to his obsession with his youth and beauty. Dorian being Basil’s subject in his paintings also adds to his feeling of glorification. Basil choses Dorian because he radiates youthfulness and has an almost godlike aura. After painting his masterpiece, Basil no longer looks at Dorian as a person, but art. When Dorian sees the portrait, he begins to grieve over his fading youth. Out loud, Dorian wishes “if it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that – for that – I would give everything!” (Wilde 26). When the painting begins to age and he stays the same, his obsession with beauty begins to grow even more.
Dorian’s influence of his painting begins when he notices the slight change in its appearance. After calling off the marriage and breaking Sybil’s heart, he comes home to find his painting altered slightly. At first, he is confused on how this is possible, but soon remembers the wish he made in Basil’s studio. Realizing the painting is a reflection of his soul, Dorian is ashamed of himself and attempts to pray the sin he has committed away. Eventually, he decides to store the painting in an unused room, to prevent people from seeing who he truly