ESSAY
QUESTIONS
THE PICTURE OF
DORIAN GRAY
,Write an essay in which you examine the influence the portra
had on Dorian’s freedom. Consider whether the bargain he
made freed him or entrapped him throughout his life up until
his death. [2
How did the portrait How did the portrait free
influence Dorian’s freedom? him?
Introduction
How did the portrait trap What were the
him? consequences?
, How did the portrait influence Dorian’s freedom?
Introduction: The portrait did indeed free Dorian in a certain sense, but ultimately it completely trapped him. Doria
understand eventually led to his death.
How did the portrait free him?
• The picture freed Dorian in the sense that the portrait carried the brunt of the consequences for his actions.
• Dorian could be as mean spirited against others as he wanted to and none of that disgust would show up on his
Consider as an example the malice he showed Sibyl Vane and that the portrait ended up with a malicious sneer.
• Dorian could abuse Opium as much as he felt like but his youthful face stayed exactly the same. The portrait sho
intense aging and abuse.
• The bargain also saved his life when James Vane wanted to kill him outside in the Opium Den. James backed aw
murder because he felt that Dorian was much too young to be the man who broke Sibyl’s heart. In this case, the
his bargain quite literally freed him from death.
How did the portrait trap him?
• The portrait also trapped Dorian. His growing paranoia that someone would find out that he has this grotesque
locked away in his attic frequently kept him from social gatherings. As an example of this, he left his own party a
after the death of James Vane because he was afraid that someone would break into his attic and steal the port
What were the consequences?
Conclusion: Ultimately the entrapment of the painting led to Dorian’s death. Dorian never intended to kill himself,
in the question shows he merely wanted to be free from the confines of having his soul trapped in the portrait. Ho
failed to understand the extent of that entrapment and thus upon stabbing the portrait, Dorian inadvertently killed
QUESTIONS
THE PICTURE OF
DORIAN GRAY
,Write an essay in which you examine the influence the portra
had on Dorian’s freedom. Consider whether the bargain he
made freed him or entrapped him throughout his life up until
his death. [2
How did the portrait How did the portrait free
influence Dorian’s freedom? him?
Introduction
How did the portrait trap What were the
him? consequences?
, How did the portrait influence Dorian’s freedom?
Introduction: The portrait did indeed free Dorian in a certain sense, but ultimately it completely trapped him. Doria
understand eventually led to his death.
How did the portrait free him?
• The picture freed Dorian in the sense that the portrait carried the brunt of the consequences for his actions.
• Dorian could be as mean spirited against others as he wanted to and none of that disgust would show up on his
Consider as an example the malice he showed Sibyl Vane and that the portrait ended up with a malicious sneer.
• Dorian could abuse Opium as much as he felt like but his youthful face stayed exactly the same. The portrait sho
intense aging and abuse.
• The bargain also saved his life when James Vane wanted to kill him outside in the Opium Den. James backed aw
murder because he felt that Dorian was much too young to be the man who broke Sibyl’s heart. In this case, the
his bargain quite literally freed him from death.
How did the portrait trap him?
• The portrait also trapped Dorian. His growing paranoia that someone would find out that he has this grotesque
locked away in his attic frequently kept him from social gatherings. As an example of this, he left his own party a
after the death of James Vane because he was afraid that someone would break into his attic and steal the port
What were the consequences?
Conclusion: Ultimately the entrapment of the painting led to Dorian’s death. Dorian never intended to kill himself,
in the question shows he merely wanted to be free from the confines of having his soul trapped in the portrait. Ho
failed to understand the extent of that entrapment and thus upon stabbing the portrait, Dorian inadvertently killed
