Evil in The Picture of Dorian Gray: :: Picture Dorian Gray Essays

Evil in The Picture of Dorian Gray:      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Picture Of Dorian Gray is yet another novel portraying evil.   The theme is very much reflected by the book's setting, plot structure and characterisation.   It shows how individuals can slowly deteriorate because of the evil lying within themselves.   The evil of this book is the evil created by one's self and thrusted upon one's self.   The power of greed and selfishness take over Dorian Gray and create an ugly evil side to him.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The mid eighteenth century was a very influential era, specially in England.   This period judged much upon appearance and status.   Dorian was a very wealthy, intelligent man with a very high status.   He knew the very influential and rich people in his town as well.   His beauty charmed the world.   Basil was inspired to draw his portrait in order to preserve his beauty and youth. Dorian recognised that as long as he remained young he would be handsome.   He dreaded the day that he would age slightly and start to form wrinkles and such ugly (in Dorian's opinion) ugly things.   He believed that that day would deprive him of triumphs that would result in him being miserable.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The degree of evil within Dorian increases as the plot develops.   By trading his soul for his youth, Dorian rids of the good inside of himself.   The plot proves to us that evil does actually lie within an individual.   From the moment that he becomes forever young he begins to deteriorate.   Even once he reached his epiphany and saw his evil through the portrait he simply denied seeing it and continued his malicious deeds.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The characterisation of the book is one of the most important elements of this book.   Dorian begins by being a very naà ¯ve lad.   He is very easily influenced by others especially his two new good friends; Basil and Lord Henry. Basil, the painter of the portrait, influenced Dorian in more of a good, honest way.   While Lord Henry, although not being evil himself, gave him a more evil insight on life.   Both of them changed his life forever.   How little they both knew what went on inside that man.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Basil does not have any real direct influence on the youngster; without