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Dorian Gray Monologue

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19.) Throughout the novel (and especially as Dorian’s character evolves and hardens) most of Dorian’s true emotions are revealed through inner monologues, since his outward appearance becomes more calm and unyielding. The first example of this occurs after Dorian officially ends his relationship with Sybil, when he contemplates his level of cruelty and ultimately concludes that he did no real wrong (44). Later, after killing Basil, Dorian’s inner monologue is all that confirms that he feels any remorse whatsoever, especially given how calm and collected he seems when speaking to his servant shortly thereafter and to Alan Campbell the next day (75-79). Dorian’s final monologue occurs at the very end of the monologue as he contemplates his choices …show more content…

Dorian represents who Wilde perceives himself to be (as he is the protagonist) - the evolution from pure naiveté. Lord Henry represents Wilde’s inner cynic — he constantly rants about anything and seems to care more about the actual act of arguing than he does about the validity of his arguments (). Basil represents Wilde’s conscience, his inner romantic, the person he aspires to be (2-7, 70-71); however, Basil’s violent death symbolizes the impossibility of ever becoming this ideal person …show more content…

Victoria Wotton is the unfaithful wife, since she is disloyal to Henry and eventually runs away with another man (100). Victor is the servant, consistently putting Dorian’s needs before his own and obeying all of Dorian’s orders, no matter how bizarre (75). The Duchess of Harley represents the ice queen, oblivious to the needs of others and heavily preoccupied with her own materialistic tendencies (20-21). 22.) Mythology and folklore is most prevalently acknowledge in this work through allusions to god and the devil as well as Greek mythological characters. Both Basil and Alan Campbell indirectly call Dorian a “devil”, Basil referring to his portrait (73) and Campbell referring to Dorian’s problems as “devil’s work” (78), both revealing Wilde’s not-so-subliminal message that Dorian is dark and corrupted. In addition, several people throughout the novel refer to Dorian as “Narcissus” of Greek mythology, first Lord Henry (2) and later even Dorian himself (50), alluding to Dorian’s preoccupation with his own beauty and appearance, especially as it becomes evident that the painting is aging for

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Chunk # 1 Chapters: 1 - 2 Set in Basil’s Home, Dorian and Henry first meet - Basil paints a portrait of Dorian and shows it to Henry - When Dorian arrives, the two meet (Henry and Dorian), and Henry speaks of his ideology - Fascinated, Dorian decides to go to the theatre with him, despite Basil’s objections – Basil objects, knowing that Dorian is quite naïve, and could easily be influenced by Henry’s cynicism Chunk # 2 Chapters: 3 - 4 Dorian and Henry’s relationship tightens, and Dorian falls in love - Henry visits his uncle to learn of Dorian’s past (Dead mother, father, raised by tyrant, the whole nine) - Goes, along with Dorian, to his aunt’s home at a small gathering, and he rants on about the hedonistic lifestyle - Dorian, being charmed by Henry’s ideals and way of

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Throughout The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde illustrates the dichotomy of Dorian Gray revealing the corruption of his soul and the reflection of that corruption in the appearance of his portrait. At the beginning of the novel, Dorian is the epitome of youth and beauty: his appearance and innocence enable him to be well-liked among everyone. However, Dorian begins his descent into evil and sin when he pledges his soul to remain youthful while his portrait ages. To illustrate, Wilde repeatedly draws a parallel between Dorian’s corruption and the physical appearance of the portrait. Furthermore, Dorian’s murder of Basil reveals the extent of the irreversible corruption of his soul.

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In Oscar Wilde’s audacious and diabolic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray is an ambiguous character neither being entirely good or bad. Dorian’s ambiguous characteristic displays that people can be influenced easily. Throughout the novel, Dorian’s motives, emotions, and intentions become skewed, opposed to the young and beautiful man society sees. The readers can see the change of Dorian’s moral ambiguity, from the start of the novel he is a young and handsome man, almost innocent.

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The marriage and death of Sybil Vane is the first indication of success of Lord Henry’s work and Dorian’s transformation. Dorian’s falling in love highlights Dorian’s new perspective and desire for pleasure and the often unreachable. To Dorian, Sybil was a muse and a lover. She is everything that he hopes to be. Dorian’s idea “to place her on a pedestal of gold and to see the world worship” (ch.6) depicts how Sybil is more of an object that he admires, rather a person who he loves.

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His wish becomes true, but just as wilde’s quote states, he does not gain the precise wisdom and experiences that are necessary to mature as he ages. Dorian Gray is the primary morally ambiguous character of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, a fact displayed through his subservience to Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton. Both characters impose opposite influences on Dorian in the novel, it is for this reason that he cannot be completely resolved as a purely evil or purely good character. The

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Chapter 16 Chapter sixteen of The Portrait of Dorian Gray begins with Dorian visiting an opium den. While there, Dorian thinks about all of the life choices he has made so far. All of the "rumors" appear to be getting to him. Just as he was leaving the den he is confronted by a man, James Vane. This man is holding Dorian hostage at gunpoint threatening to kill him for wronging his sister, Sibyl Vane.

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He is cognizant of when he falls out of love with Sybil. He mutters that Sybil has “killed [his] love” when her lackluster acting is recognized (Wilde 77). Dorian speaks to Sybil in a harsh tone, explaining that her acting was subpar. On the other hand, Dorian realizes “how unjust, how cruel, he had been to Sybil Vane” and that “It was not too late to make reparation for that” (Wilde 85). Dorian knows when he is in the wrong and is willing to make amends by marrying Sybil, even though it was too late, considering Sybil had committed suicide.

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1215 Words | 5 Pages

His views, opinions and influences captivated by Dorian Gray which continuously encourages Dorian Gray into bad things. The third main character is Basil Hallward who was an artist that paints a picture of Dorian Gray and thus, becomes obsessed with him as Dorian Gray’s beauty was Basil’s art object. Basil feelings towards Dorian were left unclear, likely because in that time, those who involved in homosexual are going to be punish be society. ‘The Picture Of Dorian Gray’ book, Oscar Wilde emphasized some relationships which were Basil Hallward and Lord Henry were friends of Dorian Gray, but, as I reach to the middle pages, Basil had feelings for Dorian Gray as he even confessed to Dorian in Dorian’s

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725 Words | 3 Pages

Dorian is a young man who is not yet fully formed in his thinking and has a very handsome appearance. Basil is instantly taken with him and finds that he wants Dorian all to himself. The way Basil influences Dorian isn 't through words but rather through his actions. He idolizes him.

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346 Words | 2 Pages

In today’s society, many people are living below the poverty line. For years people have been working numerous hours and still can’t climb above the poverty level. The working poor and the poor classifies as being the same. The working poor is people that work and can maintain their household, but still, fall below the poverty line. The poor are individuals who struggle with finding steady employment and sometimes find themselves homeless.

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The genre of the novel is a terror, drama, psychology, humanitarianisms, romance and paranormal components. The Picture of Dorian Gray begins on a beautiful season day in Victorian-era England where Lord Henry Wotton, a determined man, is observing the sensitive artist Basil Hallward painting the painting of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man who is Basil 's ultimate inspiration. Though sitting for the painting, Dorian listens to Lord Henry adopting his hedonistic worldview and begins to think that beauty is the only aspect of life worth trying. This encourages Dorian to wish that the painted image of himself would age in his stead.

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997 Words | 4 Pages

As soon as Dorian enters in Chapter 2 of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wildes’ one and only novel, its is evident that there will be a battle between who will have the most influence on his pure, untouched soul. Basil Hallward, a painter and worshipper of art is an optimist and sees only the good in even the wickedest of people, such as Lord Henry. Lord Henry is a charming, self-indulgent aristocrat that shapes and molds Dorian to lead a life devoted to pleasure. Both Basil and Lord Henry represent two important opposing forces in the novel, good and evil. The greatest struggle in The Picture of Dorian Gray is inside Dorian; he himself embodies both pure good and pure evil.

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904 Words | 4 Pages

The theme of duality is explored through the ongoing push and pull that Dorian faces between the influence of Lord Henry and the influence of Basil. This is made apparent as Dorian ponders whose guidance he should listen to and thinks, "When I close my eyes, I hear them, and each of them says something different. I don 't know which to follow”. Wilde’s use of sensory imagery illustrates the physical toll that this mental conflict is taking on Dorian. The juxtaposition of visual and aural imagery shows Dorian’s internal battle, but the fact that Dorian cannot see them, only hear their voices displays the blind faith that Dorian has in two men who have completely contrasting moral ideals, displaying Dorian’s mercurial and conflicting morals.

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829 Words | 4 Pages

Basil has come to ask Dorian about all the horrible rumors surrounding him, and hopes they turn out false. Basil also asks about the portrait and why Dorian hides it, so Dorian decides to show him his “to see your soul. But only God can do that—you shall see it yourself to-night!”. Dorian then takes Basil to see his picture, which at first cannot be recognized by Basil, but soon he realizes the true horror of the situation, “an exclamation of horror broke out from the painter’s lips as he saw in the dim light the hideous face on the canvas grinning at him” (Wilde 113). Dorians soul has become rotten to the core with selfishness and pleasure, mainly because of Lord Henry’s poisonous words.

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937 Words | 4 Pages

The reader gets the impression that the portrait is a representation of Dorian 's inner self, and how it becomes uglier and more disgraceful as time gradually passes and with every horrific crime that he commits, as can be seen in the following quote: “The picture had to be concealed. There was no help for it.” (Wilde 113). The portrait serves as an image of Dorian 's true nature and the relationship between how his soul progressively becomes more nefarious, and how the evil of his soul becomes visible on the painted surface of the canvas. The way Wilde uses the portrait as a motif throughout the story helps the reader to see and understand how Dorian himself is not yet entirely unfettered by the influence of the portrait.

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