Oscar Wilde

novel Dorian Gray? Lord Henry Wotton is the first character introduced in Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. From the start of the novel it is evident that Lord Henry lives an extremely lavish lifestyle and has an eye for beautiful things and their aesthetic. His eye could “just catch the gleam of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured blossom of a laburnum” as he is lying on a “divan of Persian saddle bags.” Wilde portrays Lord Henry’s scenery in a beautiful and idealistic way,…

Influence In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the main character, Dorian Gray, turns towards a life of sin that ultimately leads to his death. These actions were influenced greatly by Lord Henry. Although Dorian cannot be without blame as he made the final decision of each action, Lord Henry can be considered the antagonist in this novel as he influences Dorian’s dreadful sins, and succeeds in making Dorian live his life for art and forget moral responsibility. When Dorian…

In Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry is portrayed as an artist, while Dorian Gray is portrayed as the canvas in which Henry paints on. In the beginning of the novel, Dorian’s first meeting with Lord Henry immediately shows how easily influenced Dorian’s character is. Lord Henry’s charismatic manner in speaking captivates Dorian causing Dorian to “never [take] his gaze off him” and be put “under a spell.” By captivating Dorian, Lord Henry is able to take advantage of…

Wilde and the Decadents both feel that "This rationalization of homosexual desire as aesthetic experience has as its subtext an escalating contempt for women, whose bodies seem to stand in the way of philosophical beauty" (Showalter 176). To repeat, Decadents…

Very rough draft What is the definition of a monster? Is it a slimey creature that hides in the closets of children, or perhaps creature with teeth sharper than steak knives? Nearly infinite definitions exist, but The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley help to paint a clear picture of what a monster actually is. Frankenstein and Lord Henry are used to show that a true monster is someone that ruins the lives others either through negligence or subtle…

Oscar Wilde, an Irish author, who claims that "disobedience is a valuable human trait and that it promotes social progress" might be a valid answer because if you look back into our history, changes have been made through the disobedience of people who believe that whatever they're being told is wrong. However, being disobedient can lead to server punishment, but as you see in time changes happen when things are out of the ordinary through disobedience which can bring out the greatest effects in…

Jerusha McCormack discusses in her critical essay ‘Wilde’s fiction(s)’ the different ways in which Oscar Wilde’s life was influenced by his literal works, as well as how his works have had an impact in his life, especially the trials about his sexuality which led to his imprisonment. The essay is separated into seven parts. Each of these parts show themes of Dandyism and Wilde’s homosexuality. There is also an ongoing theme of duality throughout the essay, in Wilde’s mixed origin of being…

over time, with the influential push of Lord Henry Wotton, develops an ugly soul with a still-youthful face. Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland on October 16, 1854. He wrote many fairy tales along with other works. Some of these include The Soul of Man, Lady Windermere’s Fan, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. On May 29, 1884, Wilde married a wealthy Englishwoman named Constance Lloyd. They had two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan. Years later,…

The yard was filled with the sickeningly sweet scent of blooming flowers, from the hard-petaled magnolias to the soft brittle trilliums, all competing and vying for the attention of the beholder, Dorian Gray. In a place not accustomed to the cruelty of the outside world he lived peacefully with his only true friend and companion, Basil Hallward. They ate, drank, and talked together in the luscious garden of flowers, day by day. This peaceful and monotonous life was home to them: that is, until…

According to the online dictionary of Merriam Webster, vanity is described as: “The Quality of people who have too much pride in their own appearance, abilities, achievements (…) The Quality of being vain” and “Something (such a belief or a way of behaving) which shows that you have too much pride in yourself, your social status, etc.” In my opinion, these descriptions fit the corrupted Dorian Gray perfectly. Dorian was a pure, innocent boy, until he was corrupted by Lord Henry, which made him…