Every book has a set of symbols; these are items throughout a novel that have a hidden meaning or value. Symbols are prominent in the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey written by Oscar Wilde, the most obvious symbol being the picture itself. However, some other important symbols are the book Lord Henry gives Dorian, the dagger Dorian uses, and the Chinese opium houses. These symbols are used to help readers better understand the situation or characters and also provide foreshadowing throughout the story. Symbols allow readers to relate to the various characters in the novel. In the beginning of Oscar Wilde’s book, his main character Dorian Grey is an innocent young man. He is pure and beautiful, according to the artist Basil Hallward. Dorian
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After an argument Dorian becomes enraged by Basil and he lashes out. Wilde describes the event, “He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man’s head down on the table, and stabbing again and again” (Wilde 163). Dorian’s unstable emotions drove him to perform an act that he later regretted. In the instant he saw a solution to a problem, he reacted and the consequences were great. The same can be said when Dorian kills himself. He had no escape and from his evil ways and used the first idea he had. Drugs were his only other escape, but they could only do so much. Near the end of Oscar Wilde’s story Dorian seeks refuge from his horrible life by traveling into the Chinese inhabited area of London. He travels far away to sooth his nerves, he does this to avoid being seen by anyone important. He had brought a lot of pain to many, when the guilt was unbearable he handled it by taking drugs. Wilde describes Dorian’s addiction, “He heaved a deep breath, and his nostrils quivered with pleasure” (Wilde 192). Dorian Grey does not like to think, when he needs an answer he goes by the first idea he
After an argument Dorian becomes enraged by Basil and he lashes out. Wilde describes the event, “He rushed at him and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man’s head down on the table, and stabbing again and again” (Wilde 163). Dorian’s unstable emotions drove him to perform an act that he later regretted. In the instant he saw a solution to a problem, he reacted and the consequences were great. The same can be said when Dorian kills himself. He had no escape and from his evil ways and used the first idea he had. Drugs were his only other escape, but they could only do so much. Near the end of Oscar Wilde’s story Dorian seeks refuge from his horrible life by traveling into the Chinese inhabited area of London. He travels far away to sooth his nerves, he does this to avoid being seen by anyone important. He had brought a lot of pain to many, when the guilt was unbearable he handled it by taking drugs. Wilde describes Dorian’s addiction, “He heaved a deep breath, and his nostrils quivered with pleasure” (Wilde 192). Dorian Grey does not like to think, when he needs an answer he goes by the first idea he