FREE ESSAY ON PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE

PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE

In the early chapters of The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, we are introduced to
a young and naive character, Dorian Gray. Wilde's descriptions of the young man create a
picture of an innocent yet easily influenced Dorian, who is just beginning to learn what
the adult world is all about. He is happy and handsome, yet when he is introduced to Lord
Henry, he begins to experiment a little bit more on the side of sin. He becomes obsessed
with youth and beauty, and he says that he "would give everything, even [his] very soul"
to remain attractive and young. After this declaration, the reader is introduced to a
changed Dorian Gray and his new philosophies about life, which begin to sound a lot like
Lord Henry's thoughts. Dorian "falls in love," and then he breaks a girl's heart, causing
her to end her life. His beautiful portrait begins to alter, and to keep others from
witnessing this, he locks the picture away.
At this point in the novel, the reader is brought forward in time, and Dorian is now
closer to middle age. Oscar Wilde uses very dark words to set a dreary mood and also a
very different sort of image than from the beginning of he novel. Dorian's life over the
past years is described in detail, marking his drastic change and the hold the Devil has
over him. It appears that Dorian's conscience and his very soul have left his body
forever, leaving him a sinful and very conceited person. People despise him, and some
even leave a room when he enters. It is very clear that Dorian Gray has morphed into
someone who is his opposite from earlier in his life.
The rest of the novel has the same eerie tone and feeling to it. Oscar Wilde makes the
reader feel utter despair, because it seems that Dorian has changed far too much to be
able to change for the better. Near the end, hope seems to surface, only to disappear
into sadness when Wilde has Dorian stab the painting, therefore stabbing his very soul,
and killing himself.