The Picture of Dorian Gray Writing Assignment
1. Analysis of an Important Character Lord Henry Wotton plays a major role in the development of Dorian Gray’s character. Even before the two main characters’ first meeting, Lord Henry is already known for having a “very bad influence over all of his friends...”, in the words of Basil Hallward (pg 19). Lord Henry opens a door to a new, dark world for Dorian, causing him to become obsessed with youthfulness and appearance. Dorian becomes enchanted by whatever Lord Henry has to say, telling him that, “I don’t think I am likely to marry, Harry. I am too much in love. That is one of your aphorisms. I am putting it into practise, as I do everything you say,” (pg 51). Dorian idolizes his new friend …show more content…
His use of imagery is best during dark and morbid scenes such as the murder of Basil Hallward. Wilde describes how Dorian “dug the knife into the great vein... crushing the man’s head... and stabbing again and again,” in gruesome detail (pg 163). Wilde made sure to keep even his most morbid scenes eloquent though. He is able to relate scenes of evil without creating a horror story. Both The Picture of Dorian Gray and Lord of the Flies show the darkness in the human soul. In both stories, the characters feel the need to hide behind a mask to release the darkness inside. Jack’s clan of boys in Lord of the Flies puts war paint on before a kill to rid themselves of the humanity and morals. Dorian Gray too is hiding behind a facade, as his youth and beauty do not reflect who he truly is. Both authors are able to show and compare the good and bad in their characters with these masks. The mask of barbaric war paint and the mask of youth, beauty, and innocence allow their characters to hide themselves and behave in ways they never would have before. The characters’ dark sides emerge with the masks’ presence, and they do not fear the consequences for their actions. Numerous times, Dorian relates that “the mask of youth had saved him,” knowingly exploiting his look of innocence to commit evil doings (205). This concept of hiding behind a facade allows young boys to …show more content…
Lord Henry believes that appearance is everything, and that it is the sole attribute that defines a person. Lord Henry judges Dorian upon his appearance, telling him, “People like you - the wilful sunbeams of life - don’t commit crimes, Dorian,” (pg 56). He is instilling the belief into Dorian that a youthful, innocent appearing person is incapable of doing such horrid things, as they would show in one’s appearance. Lord Henry’s ideas about appearances translate over to Dorian in the novel when Lord Henry tells him, “you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having,” (pg 24). Dorian is convinced that beauty and youth is all that matters under the influence of Lord Henry. This moment is so essential to the plotline of the book because it causes Dorian to wish that his portrait would age rather than himself. Dorian goes mad with his obsession with his appearance and the desire to hold onto his beauty, later telling his friend Basil, “I know, now, that when one loses one 's good looks, whatever they may be, one loses everything... When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself,” (pg 28). Dorian is so obsessed with the idea of his appearance needing to stay youthful and beautiful that he would kill himself with losing these attributes. Innocence too is seen in one’s appearance, and Dorian Gray, being granted with eternal youth, has an innocent look about him that
1. Analysis of an Important Character Lord Henry Wotton plays a major role in the development of Dorian Gray’s character. Even before the two main characters’ first meeting, Lord Henry is already known for having a “very bad influence over all of his friends...”, in the words of Basil Hallward (pg 19). Lord Henry opens a door to a new, dark world for Dorian, causing him to become obsessed with youthfulness and appearance. Dorian becomes enchanted by whatever Lord Henry has to say, telling him that, “I don’t think I am likely to marry, Harry. I am too much in love. That is one of your aphorisms. I am putting it into practise, as I do everything you say,” (pg 51). Dorian idolizes his new friend …show more content…
His use of imagery is best during dark and morbid scenes such as the murder of Basil Hallward. Wilde describes how Dorian “dug the knife into the great vein... crushing the man’s head... and stabbing again and again,” in gruesome detail (pg 163). Wilde made sure to keep even his most morbid scenes eloquent though. He is able to relate scenes of evil without creating a horror story. Both The Picture of Dorian Gray and Lord of the Flies show the darkness in the human soul. In both stories, the characters feel the need to hide behind a mask to release the darkness inside. Jack’s clan of boys in Lord of the Flies puts war paint on before a kill to rid themselves of the humanity and morals. Dorian Gray too is hiding behind a facade, as his youth and beauty do not reflect who he truly is. Both authors are able to show and compare the good and bad in their characters with these masks. The mask of barbaric war paint and the mask of youth, beauty, and innocence allow their characters to hide themselves and behave in ways they never would have before. The characters’ dark sides emerge with the masks’ presence, and they do not fear the consequences for their actions. Numerous times, Dorian relates that “the mask of youth had saved him,” knowingly exploiting his look of innocence to commit evil doings (205). This concept of hiding behind a facade allows young boys to …show more content…
Lord Henry believes that appearance is everything, and that it is the sole attribute that defines a person. Lord Henry judges Dorian upon his appearance, telling him, “People like you - the wilful sunbeams of life - don’t commit crimes, Dorian,” (pg 56). He is instilling the belief into Dorian that a youthful, innocent appearing person is incapable of doing such horrid things, as they would show in one’s appearance. Lord Henry’s ideas about appearances translate over to Dorian in the novel when Lord Henry tells him, “you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having,” (pg 24). Dorian is convinced that beauty and youth is all that matters under the influence of Lord Henry. This moment is so essential to the plotline of the book because it causes Dorian to wish that his portrait would age rather than himself. Dorian goes mad with his obsession with his appearance and the desire to hold onto his beauty, later telling his friend Basil, “I know, now, that when one loses one 's good looks, whatever they may be, one loses everything... When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself,” (pg 28). Dorian is so obsessed with the idea of his appearance needing to stay youthful and beautiful that he would kill himself with losing these attributes. Innocence too is seen in one’s appearance, and Dorian Gray, being granted with eternal youth, has an innocent look about him that