Dorian Gray and corruption
How does Dorian Gray become corrupted?
Is he really so innocent? Does he « sell his soul », if so when?
Various stages of corruption
Dorian is obviously corrupted at first by Lord Henry who tells him his beauty will not last forever, and advises him to take advantages of his beauty: “Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let be nothing lost upon you”. For Lord Henry, beauty rhymes with youth and Dorian Gray should enjoy his beauty to make new experiences. Lord Henry plays a big role in Dorian corruption since he is the one who put in Dorian’s brain the idea that beauty is the only thing worthy in this world. According to Lord Henry, Dorian can do whatever he wants thanks to his beauty but it will last as long as Dorian is beautiful. Once ugly, Dorian will have to fight to obtain something in this world. These poisonous words lead Dorian to put beauty above everything. When Dorian Gray looked at his portrait for the first time it is like a revelation: “A look of joy came into his eyes, as if he had recognized himself for the first time. (…) The sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation”. This passage could refer to the Bible when Adam and Eve eat the apple, then look at each other in a different way since they are aware of new desires... And here the snake would stand for Lord Henry. Harry is the masters of witty words which appear terribly attractive to Dorian. Moreover, as being older and scholar, Lord Henry has a peculiar way to see life. According to him women are pointless, one should not mourn a person's death (ref : Sybil) , very few people are worthy, etc. What is more, Basil Hallward is also one of the reasons why Dorian becomes corrupted as he is the one who painted and therefore revealed to Dorian his own beauty through his portrait.
The first visible instance of Dorian’s corruption happens after he rejects Sibyl Vane. When Dorian comes home and sees his portrait, the painted image now has an expression of cruelty on its face.
Is he really so innocent? Does he « sell his soul », if so when?
Various stages of corruption
Dorian is obviously corrupted at first by Lord Henry who tells him his beauty will not last forever, and advises him to take advantages of his beauty: “Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let be nothing lost upon you”. For Lord Henry, beauty rhymes with youth and Dorian Gray should enjoy his beauty to make new experiences. Lord Henry plays a big role in Dorian corruption since he is the one who put in Dorian’s brain the idea that beauty is the only thing worthy in this world. According to Lord Henry, Dorian can do whatever he wants thanks to his beauty but it will last as long as Dorian is beautiful. Once ugly, Dorian will have to fight to obtain something in this world. These poisonous words lead Dorian to put beauty above everything. When Dorian Gray looked at his portrait for the first time it is like a revelation: “A look of joy came into his eyes, as if he had recognized himself for the first time. (…) The sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation”. This passage could refer to the Bible when Adam and Eve eat the apple, then look at each other in a different way since they are aware of new desires... And here the snake would stand for Lord Henry. Harry is the masters of witty words which appear terribly attractive to Dorian. Moreover, as being older and scholar, Lord Henry has a peculiar way to see life. According to him women are pointless, one should not mourn a person's death (ref : Sybil) , very few people are worthy, etc. What is more, Basil Hallward is also one of the reasons why Dorian becomes corrupted as he is the one who painted and therefore revealed to Dorian his own beauty through his portrait.
The first visible instance of Dorian’s corruption happens after he rejects Sibyl Vane. When Dorian comes home and sees his portrait, the painted image now has an expression of cruelty on its face.