An Investigation into Oscar Wilde’s
Portrayal of Social Influence in Shaping
Human Behaviour in The Picture of Dorian
Gray
Through what means and to what purposes does Oscar Wilde portray the role of social influence
in shaping human behaviour in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
Subject: English
Category: 1
Word Count: 3977
, 2
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 2
I. An Influence of Manipulation.....................................................................................................5
a. The Persona of Lord Henry.................................................................................................5
b. The Relationship of Dorian Gray and Lord Henry................................................................7
II. An Influence of Infatuation.....................................................................................................10
III. Immunity to Influence............................................................................................................ 13
Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 14
Works Cited............................................................................................................................... 16
Introduction
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde follows the wicked transformation of the
character of Dorian Gray, a young man of a “simple and beautiful nature” (Wilde 16) who is
often characterized by his impeccable appearance. Upon meeting Lord Henry Wotton through
, 3
his artist friend Basil Hallward, Dorian gradually assimilates to Lord Henry’s hedonistic
philosophies. Dorian often models for Basil’s artwork, but after seeing Basil’s finalized portrait
of himself through the scope of Lord Henry’s ideologies, Dorian begins perceiving the portrait
merely as a symbol of eternal youth that would solely accentuate his own mortality which
instigates his exchange of his mortal soul for the portrait’s everlasting beauty. As Lord Henry’s
ideals continue to permeate through Dorian’s mentality and subsequently his behaviour, Dorian
leads his life down a path of moral corruption. It was not long before the face of his painted
portrait began reflecting the impurity of his soul-- the more his hedonistic and sinful lifestyle
exacerbated, the more vile of an expression the portrait would manifest. Although Dorian did not
suffer any superficial nor external ramifications of his sinful conduct, he ultimately leads himself
to his mortal downfall when shame and anger overthrows his conscience.
The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1890, where Victorian values and beliefs
dominated the society of England. As a result, Oscar Wilde’s work encountered a great deal of
controversy at its time of publication. In spite of Victorian society’s stringent expectations of
appearance, attitudes, sexuality, and conduct, Wilde brings to light the darker side of Victorian
England through the art of literature by addressing subjects of homosexuality, sexual behaviour,
and drug usage -- all of which were highly frowned upon. Simultaneously, he saturates the novel
with ideals of Aestheticism, which asserts the notion that art’s sole purpose is to project beauty,
and New Hedonism, which centralized around a doctrine praising the pursuit of pleasure in life;
both doctrines countered traditional Victorian morals, which believed in art’s duty to serve a
moral or political purpose, and society’s obligation to uphold values of virtuosity, modesty,
elegance, sexual restraint, and legal behaviour. By weaving in such contentious and controversial
Portrayal of Social Influence in Shaping
Human Behaviour in The Picture of Dorian
Gray
Through what means and to what purposes does Oscar Wilde portray the role of social influence
in shaping human behaviour in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
Subject: English
Category: 1
Word Count: 3977
, 2
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 2
I. An Influence of Manipulation.....................................................................................................5
a. The Persona of Lord Henry.................................................................................................5
b. The Relationship of Dorian Gray and Lord Henry................................................................7
II. An Influence of Infatuation.....................................................................................................10
III. Immunity to Influence............................................................................................................ 13
Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 14
Works Cited............................................................................................................................... 16
Introduction
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde follows the wicked transformation of the
character of Dorian Gray, a young man of a “simple and beautiful nature” (Wilde 16) who is
often characterized by his impeccable appearance. Upon meeting Lord Henry Wotton through
, 3
his artist friend Basil Hallward, Dorian gradually assimilates to Lord Henry’s hedonistic
philosophies. Dorian often models for Basil’s artwork, but after seeing Basil’s finalized portrait
of himself through the scope of Lord Henry’s ideologies, Dorian begins perceiving the portrait
merely as a symbol of eternal youth that would solely accentuate his own mortality which
instigates his exchange of his mortal soul for the portrait’s everlasting beauty. As Lord Henry’s
ideals continue to permeate through Dorian’s mentality and subsequently his behaviour, Dorian
leads his life down a path of moral corruption. It was not long before the face of his painted
portrait began reflecting the impurity of his soul-- the more his hedonistic and sinful lifestyle
exacerbated, the more vile of an expression the portrait would manifest. Although Dorian did not
suffer any superficial nor external ramifications of his sinful conduct, he ultimately leads himself
to his mortal downfall when shame and anger overthrows his conscience.
The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1890, where Victorian values and beliefs
dominated the society of England. As a result, Oscar Wilde’s work encountered a great deal of
controversy at its time of publication. In spite of Victorian society’s stringent expectations of
appearance, attitudes, sexuality, and conduct, Wilde brings to light the darker side of Victorian
England through the art of literature by addressing subjects of homosexuality, sexual behaviour,
and drug usage -- all of which were highly frowned upon. Simultaneously, he saturates the novel
with ideals of Aestheticism, which asserts the notion that art’s sole purpose is to project beauty,
and New Hedonism, which centralized around a doctrine praising the pursuit of pleasure in life;
both doctrines countered traditional Victorian morals, which believed in art’s duty to serve a
moral or political purpose, and society’s obligation to uphold values of virtuosity, modesty,
elegance, sexual restraint, and legal behaviour. By weaving in such contentious and controversial
