The Uncensored Picture Of Dorian Gray Analysis - 823 Words

In The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde presents the theme of good versus evil side of human nature. The depths of what it means to be human is explored by Wilde with the three characters of Basil Hallward, Henry Wotton and Dorian Gary. Each character represents a different side of the conflict between morality and giving into temptation. The three characters equally represent the difference in the class structure of society. The character of Henry Wotton represents the wealthy, proper man of society during the Victorian era in the novel, whose ideologies encompasses hedonism. Henry as the older man in the novel, appears bitter and resentful that time has taken a toll on his person and he can no longer enjoy the full†¦show more content†¦Basil advocates for art as true beauty and maintains faith in the possibility of redemption. â€Å"’Pray, Dorian, pray,’ he murmured. ‘What is it that that one says in one’s boyhood? Lead us not into temptation. Forgive our sins. Wash away our iniquities.’ Let us say that together. The prayer of your pride has been answered. The prayer of your repentance will be answered also,† (Wilde 189). On several occasions, Basil can be seen as a form of salvation to Dorian, or appears to be the angel on the other side of the shoulder and ignored most of the time. The representative of youth and the innocent, an element of gothic literature is Dorian Gray, at the beginning of the novel. Dorian like untouched clay, becomes Henry’s victim and is molded a certain manner that is set for a downfall by his own hands. Henry the bad influence, inspires Dorian to instant gratification with no thoughts on any moral consequences throughout the whole novel. The death of the young actress, Sybil serves as a result of Dorian’s new philosophy on life. â€Å"She passed again into the sphere of art. There is something of the martyr about her. Her death has all the pathetic usele ssness of martyrdom, all its wasted beauty,† (Wilde 139). The death of the young girl is brushed off Dorian’s mind as a simple occurrence in life and appears to be freed of guilt after a conversation with Henry. The climax of the novel comes in the form of Basil’s death. Dorian