The Picture of Dorian Gray: Corruption Through Aestheticism


The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is the story of moral
corruption by the means of aestheticism. In the novel, the well meaning artist
Basil Hallward presets young Dorian Gray with a portrait of himself. After
conversing with cynical Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian makes a wish which dreadfully
affects his life forever. "If it were I who was to be always young, and the
picture that was to grow old! For that I would give everything! Yes, there is
nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that"
(Wilde 109). As it turns out, the devil that Dorian sells his soul to is Lord
Henry Wotton, who exists not only as something external to Dorian, but also as
a voice within him (Bloom 107). Dorian continues to lead a life of sensuality
which he learns about in a book given to him by Lord Henry. Dorian's unethical
devotion to pleasure becomes his way of life.
The novel underscores its disapproval......

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Title: The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Corruption Through Aestheticism
Approximate Word Count: 1375
Approximate Pages: 6 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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