The Picture of Dorian Gray: Plot Analysis The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a fiction novel that tells about a man who goes through many trials and tribulations that test his sanity. The novel takes place in the late 19th century which is considered to be the Victorian era. The Victorian era was an era of great judgement and it really depended on your social class whether or not you would get treated with high regards. The contrast between middle-class society and the sins of the wealthy corrupted upper class played a huge role in the novel. Dorian Gray was considered to be of the higher class, therefore, he struggled with the madness that came with it. Dorian Gray was beautiful. So beautiful that Wilde made a point to explain to the reader how beautiful and good-looking he was. “Yes, he was certainly wonderfully handsome, with his finely-curved scarlet lips, his frank blue eyes, his crisp gold hair” (Wilde 11). Not only was Dorian Gray well respected, but he was quite the man to look at and everyone admired him. However, Dorian Gray had some of his own demons to battle with his quest to stay forever young. Having this impossible and selfish wish comes him transforming from a gorgeous innocent pure soul, to a full developed maniac. To continue, like many other novels, there’s other characters that have a great impact towards the main character. Lord Henry is the definition of a bad influence that impacted Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray does not have any parents because they passed away. Lord Henry is the father figure in Dorian Gray’s life. Lord Henry does countless things to corrupt Dorian’s mind and of course Dorian is very open to anything that he has to say. As Dorian takes the advice of Lord Henry, bad things start to happen. The reader can almost get a sense that Lord Henry is doing all of this for his own pleasure. He is trying to mold Dorian into this ideal human being that does horrific and selfish things. Lord Henry believed in heavily on looks and how beautiful someone is. “To me, beauty is the wonders of wonders . It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances” (Wilde 16). Clearly, it’s evident where Dorian got this idea that staying youthful forever was the key to life. Furthermore, Basil Hallward was another important character that impacted Dorian, but in a very different way. He saw the goodness in not only life but in Dorian. Basil was the guy who constantly had to pull Dorian back to Earth when Lord Henry did his daily brainwashing. Basil was also Dorian’s painter. Basil painted Dorian Gray a beautiful self portrait. When Dorian Gray would go and do his awful deeds, It would change. The painting started to change, when Sibyl Vane, Dorian Gray’s ex fiancé killed herself due to Dorian cutting the marriage off. “Dorian”, he said, “my letter—don’t be frightened—was to tell you that Sibyl Vane is dead” (Wilde 71). It was one night when Dorian Gray decided to go see Sibyl in a show because she is a well known actress. Sibyl did horribly because she cannot play her role as good as she did because now things are different. She is madly in love with Dorian. That night, Dorian being as vain as he is, told her how horrible she was a called off the wedding. Now, Dorian is stuck with the guilt of being the reason someone killed there selves and a picture of him that is quickly changing before his eyes. The beautiful image changes, revealing new scars and physical flaws with each of Dorian's dastardly actions. As years pass, the man in the picture grows more and more hideous, as Dorian himself stays young and beautiful. Rumors start to spread about the various people whose lives Dorian has ruined, and his formerly good reputation is destroyed. Finally, Basil and Dorian have a conversation. “Where is it? Why have you pulled the screen in front of it?” (Wilde 81). Basil wants to see the portrait, but Dorian does not allow him to because of how hideous it’s starting to look. After all, it is a representation of his soul. Finally, Dorian finally reaches his peak of insanity. When Dorian goes to reveal the picture to Basil, Basil is speechless. “Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him” (Wilde 115). With that same glare, Dorian turns into a killer and stabs Basil behind his ear, and continues to until Basil is unconscious. With that same knife, he goes for the painting. Not only does he kill Basil, and attempts to destroy the painting, but he eventually faces his inner demons. Dorian locks himself in his room with the portrait. “There was a cry heard, and a crash. The cry was so horrible in its agony that the frightened servants woke, and crept out their rooms” (Wilde 164). It was Dorian Gray who stabbed himself to death. In conclusion, Dorian killing himself “freed his soul” from all the bad he has done. He is no longer on Earth to corrupt people and their lives. Although, he did not complete his original quest to stay young forever, he went through many obstacles that showed him that it was not possible. “No, Harry, I have done too many dreadful things in my life, I am not going to do any more, I began my good actions yesterday” (Wilde 154). Dorian figured out that he’s already done so many terrible things that he could not go back and fix them. That’s what threw him off the edge and drove him to killing himself. All and all, it was the only thing left to be done in his life.

Works Cited
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Modern Library, 1992. Print.