In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde illustrates the dangers of influence through his title character. On the surface, Dorian Gray is a villain when judged against any moral code. Compelled to watch as the ugliness of his life is revealed upon a portrait of himself, Gray sees his virtue lost and his malevolence nurtured.
But what causes Gray's soul to decay? Can it be stopped? Is it Gray's true nature depicted upon the portrait? Or is Gray merely an impressionable pawn, led astray by the whisperings of a dangerous wit?
Who Is Dorian Gray? The Premise Behind the Gothic Horror Novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
Imagine living life in strict adherence to those words. Surely, a follower of this philosophy experiences immense freedom and diverse pleasures. He enjoys the world's graces whenever a whim strikes. And when the whim passes, the object thereof is quickly discarded.
It is a maximized hedonistic ideology. But every life he touches would feel the effects of that touch. Touch too deeply, and he's bound to leave a lasting mark. Could his soul bear the burden of resulting damages?
Dorian Gray's could not. He chose to follow this hedonistic path. Once the epitome of beauty, the personification of grace, charm, youth, and innocence, Gray falls victim to his own vanity. The consequences of his self-gratifying pursuits prove deadly not only to others but to himself. His egocentric philosophy comes at the expense of his morality and with depredation of his soul.
The Picture of Dorian Gray begins with youthful innocence. Gray, a young and handsome aristocrat, is the subject of a talented artist's inspiration. The artist, Basil Hallward, produces many fantastic paintings, each better than the preceding piece, to which he credits Gray's unadulterated presence.
Hallward discloses his "curious artistic idolatry" for Gray to Lord Henry Wotton. Wotton, at first an enticing conversationalist, does not practice what he preaches — his philosophies are entirely hedonistic and immoral, while his life remains boringly sedate. However, his own reserved nature does not stop him from promoting his selfish ideals in others.
He coerces Hallward to introduce him to Gray. Wotton meets Gray as the latter is sitting for a portrait. Midway through the work, he imposes his philosophies upon Gray's impressionable mind. Wotton convinces Gray that youth and beauty are fleeting, exclaiming, "Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth!"
Feeling desperate and impassioned, Gray returns to Hallward. The painter finishes, and it is his greatest work. Deeply disturbed by the picture's lasting youthfulness and vigor while his own will inevitably wane, Gray wishes that the portrait would age in his stead. He pledges his soul as consideration.
His wish is granted. Gray’s portrait bears the physical manifestations of his shames, while Gray himself remains unchanged. He embarks upon a lifelong journey of self-indulgence, watching as the face in the portrait and, hence, his soul quickly decay.
Character Analysis — Is Dorian Gray a Tragic Hero, an Evil Villain, or Pitiful Victim?
To quote Oscar Wilde in his Preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray:
"Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital. When critics disagree the artist is in accord with himself."
Thus, an analysis of Dorian Gray is, in part, subjective, colored by the critic's own nature. Critics could reasonably debate whether Gray's evolution is merely the revelation of "the real Dorian Gray" as Wotton professes in Chapter 2 of the novel or the consequence of Wotton's sordid influence. Surely, Wotton's influence planted a deviant seed, but it was Gray himself who chose to nourish it.
The Importance of Being Influenced — Effects of Lord Henry's Influence on Dorian Gray
Nevertheless, influence is a central theme of Wilde's novel. As Wotton explains:
"There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral — immoral from the scientific point of view . . . Because to influence a person is to give him one's soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of some one else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him."
Wotton's hedonistic philosophies and Old Testament Satan-like questioning of conventional or moral views are the impetuses behind Dorian Gray's sordid evolution. He is the Devil on Gray's shoulder, the bug in his ear, the influence from which Gray's sins are borrowed.
It is acceptance of Wotton's influence leads to his downfall. Gray's sins catch up to him, and his conscience haunts him. His carefree pursuit of pleasure leads to a life of fear and self-loathing. In the end, Gray is destroyed for following the path another chose for him rather than living a life all his own.
Jason Parent - Jason Parent earned his Bachelor's Degree in English in 2000 and his Juris Doctorate in 2006. He currently works as an attorney with a ...
