MWDS : The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay

Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854 to Sir William Wilde and Jane Wilde, the second of three children. Wilde studied at Oxford, and joined the Freemasons in 1878 after failing to join the Oxford Union. After graduation, he went home to Dublin and began writing poems. The Picture of Dorian Gray was his first and only sassy. Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884 and perished on November 30, 1900 to cerebral meningitis. Historical Information As the second industrial revolution went on, steel, railroads, and electricity all in allowed for the economic growth of the United States and Western Europe. The standard of financial support rose dramatically, and health concern and sanitation caused infection and death rates to drop greatly. During the decade, gothic novels, give care Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, were published. Characteristics of the Genre The setting, atmosphere, and emotions are dramatic and gloomy. Dark suspense and mystery are potent ly tied to gothic novels, along with the supernatural.Plot Summary The Picture of Dorian Gray is an Ameri good deal novel centered on Dorian Gray, a handsome wealthy young man living in the nineteenth century in London. Even though Dorian is a very intelligent soul, he often finds himself easily manipulated and this fault will ultimately lead him to failure. Dorian has his picture painted by a fri ending named sweet basil, and when Dorian meets his friend Lord Henry Wotton, his life will soon collapse. Dorian begins to believe that youth and beauty will bring him everything he desires, so he makes a privation that the portrait will age, and he will stay forever young and handsome. The picture begins to show Dorians truths portraying him as a demon-like creature, and eventually he will come to realize all the terrible sins he created over fourteen years. After Dorian realized he is the result of legion(predicate) deaths, he retreats to his old school room to stab the picture in th e heart. This relieves him of all his sins and the picture and he switches back, finally showing Dorians age.Authors Style Wilde writes with strong details and vocabulary. His purpose to write through dialog is evident, as the growth of the characters and darn are through spoken words. modelling He has a simple and a beautiful nature. Your aunt was quite right in what she state of him. Dont spoil him. Dont try to influence him. Your influence would be bad. The valet is wide, and has many marvelous people in it. Dont take away from me the one person who gives to my art whatever charm it possesses my life as an artist depends on him. Mind, Harry, I trust you (12). Basil describing Dorians importance to stay innocent from Lord Henry.1890s London, England, in the upper tungsten side. Dorian moves from the west (wealthy) side of London to the east (decrepit), representing his double personality of being a gentleman, solely also a skulker. Significance of the Opening Scene A backgrou nd of Dorian Gray is build in the first chapter, giving him a mysterious and wildly curious air. The two most of import characters that influence Dorian are brought up immediately and are given strong personalities through their dialog. The plot has strong ties with what is talked about in chapter one. Major Symbols, Motifs, Images Sibyl Vane innocence, purity, and navety. Her interaction with Dorian caused her life to end shorter than it shouldve been, and Dorian wouldnt be effected as strongly should he had not met Sybil. Significance of the resultant/Closing Scene The novel ends and begins with a painting. Dorian has evolved for the worse and decides that destroying the painting would destroy the image of his disgusting, debase soul, but inadvertently kills himself. The picture gives Dorian all of his monstrous deformities, while the painting is restored to the original, untouched beauty. realistic Themes 1. Innocence is fragile and impressionable 2. Transformation doesnt ju st have to be for the better it can go for the worse and progress to a form of despicable terribleness. 3. Eternal youth is something humans strain for, but once attained, it can become to oft of a burden and have too much consequence to bear.