Dorian Gray Monologue

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

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

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