(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Basil Halward - The Picture of Dorian Gray

            
             The murder of Basil Hallward was inevitable. His death results from his passionate devotion and unrequited love for Dorian. To what extent do you agree with this view? .
             Response.
             Basil Hallward is immediately won over by Dorian Gray and when he describes their first meeting in the first chapter he says "we were quite close, almost touching." This shows how Basil was already in love with Dorian before he even got to know him, his behavior shows that he was fascinated with Dorian and his actions shows some signs of flirting which was not approved at the time. Homosexual acts were punishable by death until 1861 and it was only legalized in the UK in 1967, Basil's death was inevitable as he exclaims in the first chapter "I have show in it the secret of my own soul." Dorian takes advantage of Basil's naivety as Lord Henry has turned Dorian from a sweet and innocent boy into a dangerous and manipulative man, Basil tries to save Dorian from Henry's corruption but it is too late as Dorian has traded his soul for eternal youth. .
             Basil Hallward is easily manipulated by Dorian as he sees him as being innocent and pure, this however isn't a true reflection of Dorian as his change in attitude is due to Lord Henry's influence. Dorian has a stronger hold on Dorian than Basil as Lord Henry offers Dorian excitement and the pursuit of pleasure whereas as Basil is trying to abide by society's ideals and act in a moral way. When Dorian reveals the painting to Basil he tries to pray by saying "sins be as scarlet, yet I will make them as white as snow" this shows the extent in which Basil goes to in order to save Dorian from his corrupt life but Dorian is not happy with Basil's actions which leads to him stabbing the latter. Plato said "the two are struck from their senses by love" this has happened to Basil as he has become so blinded by his love for Dorian that he won't accept who Dorian really is.


Essays Related to Basil Halward - The Picture of Dorian Gray

1. 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. ... Dorian stabs Basil in the back of the head, and has his body burned. ... Historical Significance: In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde doesn't hesitate to make reference to previous literary works or historical events. ... When The Picture of Dorian Gray was published, England's reading public was expanding to include the most minor of citizens - the working class. ... Dor...

  • Word Count: 784
  • Approx Pages: 3

2. Picture of Dorian Gray Comparison

The Picture of Dorian Gray is as well known for its theater production as it is for its book. ... Dorian and Basil both act the same in the book and the play. ... The portrait of Dorian is the main subject that The Picture of Dorian Gray is set around and is that way in both peaces. It is painted by Basil and is a gift to Dorian. ... As you can see both versions of The Picture of Dorian Gray are very similar to one another yet still have there little differences. ...

  • Word Count: 554
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. picture of dorian gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is the story of moral corruption by the means of aestheticism. In the novel, the well meaning artist Basil Hallward presets young Dorian Gray with a portrait of himself. ... It is this very work of art which Basil refuses to display that provides Dorian Gray with the idea that there are no consequences to his actions. ... "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks of me: Dorian Gray what I would like to be - in other ages, perhaps" (Hart-Davis 352). ... The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel including a moral dialogue between...

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

4. The picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is an excellent novel about vanity and influenced lifestyle. Dorian gray is a very inflencial perdson and when Lord Henry tellds him how precious his young life is dorian vbegins to worry. ... He is having his portrait painted by his good freind Basil Hallway. ... when he stabs the picture it goes back to the way it originlally was and his is found by his servants dead on the floor qwith a knife through his heart. ... So read the Picture of Dorian gray and find out where the evil lies in you....

  • Word Count: 344
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray

In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the main character Dorian Gray, turns into an sick and twisted adult by means of cursing his fate and pledges his soul only so that he could live without bearing the physical burdens of aging and sinning. ... Dorian Gray at the beginning of the novel is known as radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young gentleman. ... The major conflict in the novel is that Dorian Gray, having promised his soul in order to live a life of perpetual youth, must try to reconcile himself to the bodily decay and dissipation that are recorded in hi...

  • Word Count: 314
  • Approx Pages: 1

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray

In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, the main character Dorian Gray, turns into an sick and twisted adult by means of cursing his fate and pledges his soul only so that he could live without bearing the physical burdens of aging and sinning. ... Dorian Gray at the beginning of the novel is known as radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young gentleman. ... The major conflict in the novel is that Dorian Gray, having promised his soul in order to live a life of perpetual youth, must try to reconcile himself to the bodily decay and dissipation that are recorded in hi...

  • Word Count: 314
  • Approx Pages: 1

7. Narcissism in Dorian Gray and Frankenstein

After analyzing both Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, it is quite apparent that Victor Frankenstein and Dorian Gray's narcissism cause much evil, death, and destruction. ... Dorian and Lord Henry meet as Basil Hallward, a subtle artist, is painting a portrait of the ever-beautiful Dorian Gray. ... It may seem that in Wilde's, The Picture of Dorian Gray, there is only one man who causes evil through his narcissistic actions, that being Dorian. ... Those same narcissistic beliefs are what cause Dorian to become an evil being (Gillespie...

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

8. The Immorality of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Wilde's only novel. ... (Wilde 92) The Preface in The Picture of Dorian Gray was written as an answer to the critics. ... What Dorian Gray's sins are no one knows. ... Not just in the Picture of Dorian Gray but also in many other Wilde works we find the topic of double life. ... The Picture of Dorian Gray could be considered not only a novel but also a philosophical work. ...

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

9. Philosophy of The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is ranked among the most prominent examples of aestheticism in the nineteenth century literature, with its protagonist Dorian Gray and Lord Henry's aesthetic lifestyles. This essay's purpose is an interpretation of the philosophy and ideas of Oscar Wilde in The Picture of Dorian Gray. ... The picture in The picture of Dorian Gray symbolizes at the same time Basil and Dorian's hidden souls. ... His ideas of Art for art's sake, are expressed in the preface of The Picture of Dorian Gray where he argues that : "There is no such thing as a moral o...

  • Word Count: 1864
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question