The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - Essay Example

Magic and Art April26,2009. Who Created Dorian? The Picture of the Dorian is the tragedy of a young boy who was made to walk on the path of wickedness by the evil forces. The hero’s innocence, youth and beauty could not resist the trap created by Evil. The sources of evil are many. The very soul of Dorian is evil .He lets himself easily led by Lord Henry— who symbolized devil. He is willing to sell his soul to get everlasting beauty and youth. He himself declares, “Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!

I would give my soul for that!”. In the very first meeting in the studio and garden of Basil’ house, he falls a victim to temptation as idealized by Harry. Harry’s argument easily wins him over and he is totally changed person after the meeting.“The few words that Basils friend had said to him--words spoken by chance, no doubt, and with willful paradox in them--had touched some secret chord that had never been touched before, but that he felt was now vibrating and throbbing to curious pulses.

”The boy’s heart returns to its original naivety, when he falls into love with Sibyl Vane.But the worldly and satanic wisdom of his mentor makes him break the heart of the innocent soul. He feels remorse at first but again justifies himself in the light of Machiavellian morality of Lord Henry. Lord Henry is the evil angel of the story .Every moment the hero is close to repentance, he appears from nowhere and through his devilish speech changes the mind of Dorian. One is wonderstruck at the callousness of both Henry and Dorian they show at the death of Sibyl.

“What is done is done. What is past is past." The yellow book is another diversion provided to him by Lord Henry. This book further goads him to indulge in “all the passions and modes of thought that belonged to every century except his own.” Now Evil in him is in its true attire. Under his influence, the friends meet destruction. He murders his once beloved Basil as he exposed the ugliness of Dorian’s soul .The portrait is a surrogate of soul, so when he sins his soul is changed .

Even in the end to avoid the pangs of consciousness, he resorts to opium. He seems to be following Henry’s philosophy “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.” When Dorian has ominous hallucinations about his possible end, all his fears are dispelled by Lord Henry who declares that destiny is too wise or cruel to send us omens. The bad influence of Lord Henry even subdues the feelings of guilt created in Dorian’s heart. His resolve to reform himself is diverted to some other thoughts.

The damnation is complete .The inherent evil in the character of Dorian at last brought about his downfall. The very illusion that he would be able to preserve his youthful body and only the portrait will bear the burden of his vice is shattered. Death levels all. The portrait representing his soul retains its original youthfulness and beauty. Evil was inherent in Dorian but Henry’s bad influence acted as a catalyst and brought about his downfall. Works Cited1: Wilde, Oscar.

The Picture of Dorian Gray. Newyork:Dover publication,1993.