"The Picture of Dorian Grey" uses the character of Mr Grey to optimise how sin and evil may influence and destroy a man's soul. There is a definite 'Faustian' theme with the wish of Dorian to preserve his external beauty and youthfulness, instead using the painting created by Basil as an outlet for his sins. As he becomes obsessed with the aesthetic throughout his life the picture decays and pays the price for his own misdealings. As a result of this obsession love also is cast away, with lust being used as a replacement; for example he believes himself in love with Sybil Vane and yet when she reveals her true self on stage, removing the mask formed from her acting, Dorian rejects her and causes her suicide. The purest love within the novel is the love Basil has for Dorian. He portrays this love through the painting he creates of Dorian, "I have put too much of myself in it" and "Shown in it the secret of my own soul". The preface written by Oscar Wilde for this novel highlights the key messages that the reader should consider; "All art is at one surface and symbol...those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril".
Dorian Grey:
Described initially as an "Adonis", a beautiful and youthful creature untouched by the corruption of society. However, once introduced to Lord Henry such beauty, encapsulated by Basil, becomes realised and Dorian sees only the external. Afraid of decaying from age and sin he exclaims that he wishes to expel all corruption from his life onto Basil's creation. This creation, as created from love, has captured the very soul of Dorian and thus when he eventually attempts to destroy it, he destroys his soul and dies while the picture returns to its original perfection. Towards the end of the novel Dorian attempts reformation as he realises what he has become, however this is out of vanity and so the picture remains corrupt.
Lord Henry:
Henry is the epitomy of a "bad influence". His opinions of life are promiscuous and leave little room for tender feeling and appreciation of inner beauty and true love, "His principles were out of date, but there was a good deal to be said for his prejudices." He preys on Dorian feeding him books and stories that entice him into corruption. One could easily compare him to the devil whilst Basil remains a good and yet unheard influence upon Dorian. He teaches Dorian of his own beauty and youthfulness and catalyses a life-long fear that this will decay.
Basil:
Oscar Wilde stated that "The artist is the creator of beautiful things" and thus why Dorian blames him for creating a taunting preservation of his own beauty that will remain untouched whilst he ages. This fear planted by Lord Henry thus grows to the point at which Dorian murders Basil, in anger and realisation of what his soul has now become. Basil's obsession with Dorian runs much deeper than his aesthetic, "He is necessary to me" and thus is the only presentation of true love within the story. It seems particularly poignant therefore that Dorian murders the only person who truly loved him. His fear of revealing the painting comes from his fear of revealing himself within it "My heart shall never be put under the microscope" as not only would homosexuality be illegal at this point but also the issue of unrequited love would undoubtedly arise.
Quotations:
"I had a strange feeling that fate had in store for me exquisite joys and sorrows" (Basil about Dorian)
"My heart shall never be put under the microscope"
"Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face, it cannot be concealed"
"If it was only the other way! If it was I who were to be always young, and the picture that were to grow old! For this--for this--I would give everything!" (Dorian's deal to the devil so to speak)
"Here is the first passionate love-letter I have ever written in my life. Strange, that my first passionate love-letter should have been addressed to a dead girl." (Dorian about Sybil Vane)
"People who love only once in their lives are ... shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or their lack of imagination." (Lord Henry's views on love)
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