Essay on Dorian Gray

Certainly you have heard the expression, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” In Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde discredits this proverb and shows that words can indeed take over one’s life and damage it forever. In this novel, the reader witnesses Dorian Gray’s fatal bargain, his temptation to explore lust, and his futile attempt to escape his narcissistic behavior. We see this corruption in Dorian as he encounters life’s struggles, particularly from constantly being under the influence of Lord Henry’s influential words.Youth is a long-standing trait many yearn for, but ever elusive with mortality. The obsession of being youthful easily erodes many lives. When Dorian’s reprehensible life is brought to light, the reader sees fraudulence brought to the extreme by means of death. Dorian’s relentless pursuit of being imperishable is thrust into action the very day Lord Henry comes into his life. Lord Henry recognizes Dorian’s innocence and realizes how rare it is. While the trio gathers in Basil’s studio, Lord Henry decides to capture his opportunity and fill Dorian’s good virtue with his cynicism.Lord Henry claims: “When your youth goes, your beauty will go with it, and then you will discover that there are no triumphs left for you…” (pg. 24). This quote suggests that youth is all there is to live for and Dorian takes Lord Henry’s views into deep consideration. In fact, he is awestruck by his newfound knowledge. Lord Henry has succeeded in controlling Dorian’s thoughts in a very compressed amount of time. Dorian’s anxiety grows as he contemplates this message and changes his life forever by translating his evolving wickedness into the painting.Throughout the novel, …

… that he put himself through all the misery that he endured. He finally determines to start a new life with innocence. He is delighted with his decision and assumes the portrait is now free of any blemishes. When he discovers it still contains the sinful soul of his past, the only way to start anew is by destroying the monstrous picture. In doing so, Dorian unknowingly assumes the burden the portrait has carried and thereby commits suicide.Throughout the novel, Dorian encounters and is entrapped by the temptation of evil and falls victim to the words that changed and ended his life. He allowed the fantasy of youth to control him, the obsession to engulf him and the hatred to destroy him. Although Dorian ultimately kills himself with the knife that is stained with Basil’s blood, the influence of words alone proved to be the weapon that dealt Dorian his demise.

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