Addiction In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray

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Addiction in The Picture of Dorian Gray
“When you start becoming really successful, the demons start to tempt you, the demons of vanity and self importance…” (Ethan Hawke). In Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, the lifestyle of an addict is reflected through Dorian’s opioid addiction. The lifestyle of an addict is one that revolves around the substance being abused, this can lead to cravings and devastating withdrawal symptoms, in Dorian’s case, this substance is opium. Dorian experiences many mental effects due to his addiction which including anxiety, irritability, and social withdrawal. The effects that opium has on Dorian goes much beyond the mental symptoms of abuse such as his impaired decision making. The control that opium