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The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde I. Characterization A. Oscar Wilde immediately describes Dorian Gray and foreshadows the path leading to his downfall by foiling his character in showing the life opposite of that which Dorian will live. In a conversation between artist Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian is abstractly described as living a life the opposite of “‘The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world... If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live—undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet. They neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it from alien hands’ ” (Wilde 11). Dorian, being beautiful and intelligent as to his status as comely, will know something of victory through that at least. He will live differently than many men shall because of this gift and curse in beauty. He is different, and will be disturbed for his unusual facial symmetry and physical attractiveness. Foreshadowing is found in that he will eventually bring ruin upon others and himself. B. Further along in the novel, Dorian uses his charm and addictive aesthetics to draw people to him and keep them there. Just as Wotton coerces Dorian into becoming a “new Hedonist”, so too does Dorian coerce his later followers into believing that he is a good soul and a humane man in his actions. The artist Basil initially describes Dorian as “ ‘some one whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself’ ” (Wilde 33). When Lord Wotton is slowly convincing Dorian to become a “new Hedonist”, Dorian is as naïve as his future admirers. II. Setting A.
Approximate Word count = 1198
Approximate Pages = 4.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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