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The Portrait of Dorian Gray

            
             The Picture of Dorian Gray was a movie that went through the life of a young man. A young man who deceived the world around him through words, actions and lies. A world that ended his life. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who had a precise definition for the term tragedy. He believed the ideal protagonist in a tragedy contained three distinct characteristics. Dorian Gray (the protagonist) was of some significance, had a character flaw, and his own character flaw inevitably resulted in his demise.
             Dorian Gray was a young man of his twenties. He was well respected by the older gentlemen of the town and was well known by the ladies. He bore a special significance through out the story in that many people knew the face of this intriguing gentleman but not the name. He was whispered about through the town as practicing something unnatural but no one bothered to turn him away or dislike him. He was just another man that brought life and enjoyment to the afternoon gossips as a man who remained young for all time. His significance that reigned over him was he was rich, respected and admired. He had many close friends through out his life but some ended in a far worse fate then he did.
             Every protagonist has a character flaw that will result in his or her demise. Dorian Gray went from a quiet, well-respected man to a lonely questioned outsider. He had everything but overcome by the want to be young forever overpowered his heart and he inevitably gave his soul for one wish. The wish that his portrait portrayed what was happening in his life and he; he would remain young and handsome forever. His one flaw that at first seemed so innocent and small to him ended up becoming him and transforming him in ways he never imagined. However, all good must come to an end and for Dorian it came all too soon.
             Dorian's character flaw inevitably resulted in his death. He reached the age of thirty-eight still portraying the looks of a twenty year old.


Essays Related to The Portrait of Dorian Gray

1. Narcissism in Dorian Gray and Frankenstein

... Berman). But slowly, as years go by, Dorian continues to live a life plagued by vanity. Although he does not physically age, the portrait of him begins to deteriorate and become decrepit. Despite the hideous physical changes to the portrait, it still represented the authentic version of Dorian Gray. It is inevitable that Dorian must face that the painting, which remains a true reflection of him, portrays the truly horrific individual that he has become. Just as ... Victor, must chase down the monster to stop it as he realizes the potential of its evil actions. His ... ...

  • Word Count: 1962
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Concepts of Guilt in The Picture of Dorian Gray

... Lord Henry, becomes obsessed with Dorian Gray and wants to paint a portrait of Dorian. Lord Henry and Basil both express to Dorian that they admire his attractiveness and youthfulness. Dorian wishes that he could continue to be young forever all while the man in the portrait grew older and uglier. As Lord Henry and Dorian spent more and more time together, Dorian saw the ways of the mischievous Lord Henry, Dorian also became mischievous and did ... illustration I have drawn is the image of the young-looking Dorian Gray standing in front of his ulterior self, in portrait. This relationsh...

  • Word Count: 585
  • Approx Pages: 2

3. The Aesthetic Ideal In The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde

... artistic creations. He searches in the outside world for the perfect manifestation of his own soul, when he finds this object, he can create masterpieces by painting it (Bloom109). Dorian's personality is all his art now; it has suggested him "an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style."(Wilde 15)He refuses to display the portrait of Dorian Gray with the explanation that, "I have ... put too much of myself into it" (Wilde 7). He further demonstrates the extent to which he holds this philosophy by later ... stating that, "only the artist is truly revealed." (Wilde 10) L...

  • Word Count: 3731
  • Approx Pages: 15
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. picture of dorian gray

... his dedication to his artistic creations. He searches in the outside world for the perfect manifestation of his own soul, when he finds this object, he can create masterpieces by painting it (Bloom 109). He refuses to display the portrait of Dorian Gray with the explanation that, "I have put too much of myself into it" (Wilde 106). He further demonstrates the extent to which he holds this philosophy by later stating ... that, "only the artist is truly reveled" (109). Lord Henry Wotton criticizes Basil Hallward that, "An artist should create ... ...

  • Word Count: 1332
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Dorian Gray - Aestheticism

... Basil, Lord Henry and Dorian cannot resist the temptation of aesthetics. It is because of Basil's aesthetic love for Dorian's physical beauty that the portrait is created in the first place. This portrait is the cause for Dorian's insane actions, which result in the death of Basil. Much of Dorian's life was influenced by Lord Henry's thoughts and actions, which ultimately leads to the demise of Dorian Gray as he takes his own life. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is ... a perfect story of hedonism and love of ... ...

  • Word Count: 949
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Dorian Gray summary

... the novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray, the main character Dorian Gray is quite the opposite of a static personality. From the outset of the novel to the end, Gray goes through a dramatic transformation. His metamorphosis begins early on appearing as a very innocent young man with an unfortunate encounter with a very persuasive hedonist. Such an encounter corrupts his view on life which continues on as a never ending downward spiral. His conversation with this certain hedonist influenced the ... To a normal person, they would feel a tremendous amount of guilt placed upon their conscience. ...

  • Word Count: 965
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray Summary of novel: Dorian Gray, the beautiful, talented, charming young man, has managed to capture the hearts of both men and women alike during nineteenth-century England. His incredible purity has attracted Lord Henry Wotton, who vies for his attention with Basil Hallward, a trusting and gentle artist. Basil, having poured his soul into a wonderful portrait of Dorian, resents the recent closeness between Lord Henry and the boy. The portrait that Basil did of Dorian turned ... out marvelously; it was almost a perfect likeness. In a heated moment, Dorian wishes that...

  • Word Count: 784
  • Approx Pages: 3

8. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Beauty

... anything, The Picture of Dorian Gray proves to its readers that the need to be beautiful is a recurring concept of life. Beauty not only catches popularity in the media's eyes, but also through fairytales, it represents the human aspiration for perfection. Just as the queen possesses in Snow White, "the portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors."(102).As described in the imagery, whenever the queen continuously peers into the mirror ... to do anything in order to retain beauty not only presents itself in Dorian gray but in today's society as well, allowing beauty to undergo a...

  • Word Count: 849
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. The Immorality of Dorian Gray

... sold his soul to the devil. The book has been criticised from the very beginning for its immorality; the Victorian society did not like how Wilde pictured the life of rich people, that he connected luxury with sin. Like Lord Henry says: ˜Beautiful sins, like beautiful things, are the privilege of the rich.' (Wilde 92) The Preface in The Picture of Dorian Gray was written as an answer to the critics. It expresses Wilde ... he finds something very comforting in watching his soul rotting and comparing the portrait to his view in the mirror. Once again, as said in the Preface, it really is...

  • Word Count: 1890
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

10. Oscar Wilde and The Picture of Dorian Grey

... in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray)." The novel is about a man who starts out innocent and pure, and through influence of other people and society, is corrupted into thinking beauty is the only thing that matters in this world. After his portrait is completed, he becomes so enthralled with the youthfulness and the beauty of the portrait. Through the influence of Lord Henry warning Dorian about the advancement of age, they cause Dorian to curses himself ... by saying, "If the ... ...

  • Word Count: 1387
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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