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The Picture Of Dorian Gray Gothic Analysis

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In the early 18th century a new genre of fiction prose, named "Gothic Novel" was introduced. The term ”Gothic” used to refer to the German tribe of the Goths, and later on signified ”Germanic”, then ”medieval”. The Gothic novel spread over the 19th century and had the popular theme of haunted places such as castles, crypts, gloomy mansions and convents; supernatural elements having the role to intensify the atmosphere. The characteristic motifs of the gothic genre were the strange places, the supernatural, magic objects, monsters, demons, science used for bad purposes. And many of them appears also in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" The protagonist is both good and bad, both handsome and ungly by his character and the picture, his own portrait, represents Dorian 's inner soul. The portrait, the main symbol of the novel, carry all the marks of Gray 's degeneration, who, is exploring …show more content…

It becomes a kind of conscience, and it reminds Dorian constantly of the evil at the heart of his nature. In “The Picture of Dorian Gray” are present plenty gothic elements. Some of them are: the evil, the bargain with the devil, the secret room, the scary atmosphere. The devil is impersonated by Lord Henry who uses his wisdom to tempt Dorian with his immoral opinions. He gives to Dorian a yellow book, a poisonous book which influences and brings him to become a murderer, lossing his innocence. Lord Henry has a poisonous influence on Dorian always tempting him: "Some day, when you are old and wrinkled and ugly, when thought has seared your forehead with its lines, and passion branded your lips with its hideous fires, you will feel it, you will feel it terribly." Dorian:"Am I really like that?" ; Basil: "Yes; you are just like that." Dorian:"How wonderful, Basil!" ; Henry: "At least you are like it in appearance. But it will never

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