Essay on Picture of Dorian Gray: The Rotting of the Spirit :: Picture Dorian Gray Essays

The Rotting of the Spirit in The Picture of Dorian old Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, makes Basils life change drastically by having him paint a portrait of Dorian Gray and express too untold of himself in it, which, in Wildes mind, is a troublesome obstacle to circumvent. Wilde believes that the artist should non portray any of himself in his work, so when Basil does this, it is he who creates his give birth downfall, not Dorian (Shewan 36). Wilde introduces Basil to Dorian when Basil begins to notice Dorian staring at him at a party. Basil suddenly became conscious that someone was looking for at him. He turned halfway around and saw Dorian Gray for the first time (Wilde 24). Basil immediately notices him, however Basil is afraid to blab to him. His reason for this is that he does not want any external influence in his life (Wilde 24). This is almost a paradox in that it is eventually his own internal influence that destroys him. Wilde does this many times throughout the book. He loved using paradoxes and that is why Lord Henry, the character most similar to Wilde, is quoted as existence called Price Paradox. Although Dorian and Basil end up hating each other, they do enjoy meeting each other for the first time. Basil finds something different closely Dorian. He sees him in a different way than he sees other men. Dorian is not only beautiful to Basil, but he is also lovely and kind. This is when Basil falls in love with him and begins to paint the picture. Basil begins painting the picture, but does not tell anyone about it, including Dorian, because he knows that there is too a good deal of himself in it. Lord Henry discovers the painting and asks Basil why he will not display it. Lord Henry thinks that it is so beautiful it should be displayed in a museum. Basil argues that the reason he will not display the painting is because he is afraid that he has shown in it the secret of his soul (Wilde 23). This is other paradox because he has not only shown the secret of his soul, but the painting eventually comes to show the secret of Dorians soul also. In the preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde explains that to reveal art and conceal the artist is arts aim (Wilde 17).