PM: Anaysis of Dorian Gray

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UPPSALA KATEDRALSKOLAN P-M
English B HT-07

Xingjian Su
Tiundagatan 61
752 30 Uppsala



DORIAN GRAY
A analysis of the character Dorian Gray in the novel
“The picture of Dorian Gray”



Professor: Lars Lundqvist





CONTENTS

1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..3
1.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………..3
1.2 Aim and research-question...……………....……………….....……………4
1.3 Background………………………………….……………………………..4
1.4 Method…………………………………..…………………………………4
1.5 Material…………………………………………….………………………4
2 Facts………………………………………………….......……………………..4
2.1 Events………………………………………………………………………5
2.2 Quotations………………………………………….………………………6
3 Analysis and discussion………………………………………………………7
3.1 Analysis of personalities throughout the major events…………………….7
3.2 General development of personality……………………………………….9
3.3 Discussion………………………………………………………………….9
4 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………10
4.1 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………10
4.2 Summary……………...……………………………………………………10
5 Sources……………………………………………...…………………………11
5.1 Internet sources………………………………………….…………………11
5.2 Other sources……….………………………………………………………11



Important Characters:
Basil Hallward
Friend of Dorian Gray, Hallward is a talented artist, with particular romantic ideals. His art requires a motive, and the personality and good looks of Dorian Gray appear to satisfy it.

Lord Henry Wotton
The antagonist in this story. Manipulative and a new hedonist.
There is also an unmistakeable allusion to "old Harry" (the devil) in the character''''s name. Dorian refers to him as Harry and he is continually tempting Dorian and talking him into a more immoral frame of mind.



1 Introduction

1.1 Introduction
Dorian Gray is one of the main characters in the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde. The novel was first published in 1890 as a novella in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, the full-length version was not published until 1891. The novel caused much debate since it dealt with taboo-topics (for that era) such as homosexuality . Oscar Wilde also criticized the British upper class, especially for their Victorian moral values , often portraying them as hypocrites; this caused a lot of fuzz.
According to the novel, Gray is the orphaned grandson of Lord Kelso and son of beautiful Margaret Devereux, who died in childbirth shortly after the tragic death of Gray’s father during a duel with a Belgian duellist. It is told in the story that it is believed that Lord Kelso hired the Belgian brute to incite the fight.
Gray grows up, and it becomes clear that he has got the beauty of his mother.
After the death of his guardian and grandfather Lord Kelso, he inherits the wealth of his mother. He becomes the protégé of Lady Agatha; together they raise money for the Whitechapel poor.
Until Gray meets Lord Henry Wotton, he has an innocent and naïve childlike view of the world. In essence, the reader is presented with a neutral character which is unpolluted and unaffected by the restrictions and values of society.


1.2 Aim and research-question
The aim of the subject is to make an analysis of the character Dorian Gray.
The main approach to fulfil the aim is to analyze the development of his personality.
By analyzing the character of Gray throughout the chapters, it should be quite easy to explore the development of his character. The development of the character is of great importance: Since his personality is evolving and changing, it is useless to explain each and every one of their variations. Instead, by analyzing the development, a precise and general conclusion can be made . The research-question should therefore be: How does the character of Dorian Gray evolve?
In order to make this possible it is essential to find the chapters and quotations where the features of Gray’s personality are revealed. These parts are usually major events in the story such as points-of-no-returns and climaxes. Therefore, part of the aim is to extract these happenings and points-of-no-returns together with important quotations from the novel.

1.3 Background.
It is obvious that the novel orbits around the evolution of the person Dorian Gray. It cannot be excluded that by understanding and contrasting Gray, one can better comprehend and enjoy the novel.
This way to analyze the main character in order to deepen the understanding of a text is a fairly common way to approach a novel when analyzing it.

1.4 Methods.
It was concluded in the aim that happenings and quotations where the essence of Dorian’s personalities had to be found. Therefore, the novel was thoroughly read, then the main events and climaxes were extracted, they were then once again thoroughly read.

1.5 Material.
The novel itself was the main material; it was read in its pocket layout published by the Random House Inc. see sources

2 Facts

2.1 Events

Event I
Gray meets Wotton together with Hallward. Gray first sits by the piano, “with his back to them, turning over the pages of a volume of Schumann’s “Forest Scenes”.”
After some chatter, Hallward asks Wotton to leave the studio, but Gray wants him to stay, the reason is that he wants someone to converse with while sitting as model. The result is that Wotton stays, he and Gray starts a little discussion about different topics that are affected by the social situation of the country.
Hallward, focusing on the work, is only conscious that “a look had come into the lad’s face that he had never seen before.”
The topic about youth comes up; Wotton explains to Gray how fragile and short-lived youth is. When the picture is finished, Gray realizes that the picture will stay young and he will grow old, in desperation, he cries out: “If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that-for that-I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!”

Event II
Dorian Gray falls in love with Sibyl Vane , he tells Wotton about his love. Wotton resonates about women and relationships in a very anti-feministic way whilst Gray sort of defends Sibyl Vane in her feminine role by portraying her as something very desirable and someone who masters the art of acting.
Dorian makes the decision to engage her into marriage. Hallward and Wotton attend to one of her plays, what they experience make them utterly disappointed; she acts like “a commonplace, mediocre actress.”
Afterwards, Gray confronts Vane and maliciously condemns her acting during that night. First, she doesn’t think he is serious, but it becomes clear that he is when he says: “you have killed my love.” Gray, furious, leaves her and heads back home. At home, he discovers that the picture has altered, with “the touch of cruelty in the mouth.” Gray doesn’t take this sign seriously, instead, he think it ought to be something interesting. The next day, Sibyl Vane has committed suicide, but Gray takes it as a trivial happening. He ends up that night not mourning over Vane’s death, but together with Lord Wotton at the Opera.

Event III
By this time, Hallward’s picture has altered even more; the figure on the canvas has become old and wrinkled. This is to be too much for Gray, he doesn’t want anybody to see it, and he doesn’t want to see it himself. So it is hidden in the old schoolroom, where it stays covered up.
Dorian Gray receives a novel about a young Parisian, seeking all the passions of the nineteenth century. This book is to be his guideline for years since it “seemed to him to contain the story of his own life” , and Gray will see the Parisian as “a kind of prefigure of himself.”6

Event IV
On the night of ninth November, the thirty-eighth birthday of Gray, Hallward runs across Gray. He has apparently been looking for Gray the whole evening. They go to Gray’s mansion. Hallward appeals to Gray to tell him that the rumours and accusations of him are false, and to change his behaviour if they are true. In the end, Basil says that he should have a look at his soul. Gray decides to show him the picture, but whilst Hallward stares at it, Gray grabs a knife and kills Hallward.
In order to get rid of the body, he blackmails a certain Mr. Campbell , who is forced to do the dirty job.



Event V
Disturbed by the fact that the murder of Hallward might “dog him all his life, ” Gray finally destroys the painting of himself. But doing so, he dies, since he kills his own soul.

2.2 Quotations.

Chapter II
p27 “Yes, I am glad now. I wonder shall I always be glad?” –Gray

p29 “I would give my soul for that!” –Gray
Chapter IV
p51 “If one hears bad music, it is one’s duty to drown it in conversation.” –“Ah! That is one of Harry’s (Wotton’s) views isn’t it, Mr Gray?” –Gray in conversation with Lady Henry

p54 “You filled me with a wild desire to know everything about life.” –Gray

p 58 “All through your life you will tell me everything you do.” –“I believe that is true. I cannot help telling you things.” –Gray in conversation with Wotton

Chapter VI
p89 “Harry, you are dreadful! I don’t know why I like you so much.” –“You will always like me, Dorian.” –Gray in conversation with Lord Henry Wotton

p96 “Horribly! It was dreadful, are you ill? You have no idea how it was. You have no idea what I suffered.” –Gray

p102 “Cruelty! Had he been cruel? It was the girl’s fault, not his. He had dreamed of her as a great artist, had given love to her because he thought her great. Then she had disappointed him. She had been shallow and unworthy.” –Gray

Chapter VIII
p109 “I am perfectly happy now. I know what conscience is, to begin with. It is not what you told me it was.” –Gray

p111 “So I have murdered Sibyl Vane. –And tonight I am to dine with you, and then go on to the Opera, and sup somewhere. –How extraordinary dramatic life is!” –Gray


Chapter IX
p122 “Stop, Basil! I won’t hear it! –You must not tell me about things. What is done is done. What is past is past.” –Gray

p123 “It is one of the great romantic tragedies of the age.” –Gray commenting the death of Sibyl Vane

Chapter X
p142 “I am so sorry, Harry, but really it is entirely your fault. That book you sent me so fascinated med that I forgot how the time was going.” –Gray

Chapter XII
p169 “I don’t wish to know anything about them. I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself don’t interest me. They have not got the charm of novelty.” –Gray

Chapter XIV
p193 “If you don’t help me, I must send it. You know what the result will be. But you are going to help me. ” -Gray

Chapter XV
p203 “I wish it were fin du globe. Life is a great disappointment” –Gray

Chapter XVI
p210 “Ah! For that there was no atonement; but though forgiveness was impossible, forgetfulness was possible still.” –Gray

p214 “I am sick of women who love one. Women who hate one are much more interesting.” –Gray


3 Analysis and discussion

3.1 Analysis of personalities throughout the major events

Event I
One can interpret his personality here as very naïve, neutral and romantic. Mainly it is because he sits with his back turned towards Hallward and Wotton, a sign of innocence, and a childlike acting towards situations; he doesn’t bother meeting them, instead this meeting seems to be trivial and there is no need to act formally.
The fact that he plays piano and especially Schumann makes him very romantic. Piano can be seen as one of the great medias to express romanticism, and Schumann was one of the great romanticists of that era.
He shows no signs of moral allegiances when discussing with Wotton. He is rather inquisitive. -A rather telltale sign of a neutral and childlike personality.
But soon, a look comes into his face. One could interpret this as his personality altering since he becomes conscious of how fragile youth is. He becomes generally afraid of loosing things–this can be backed up by his quotes. (p27 “Yes, I am glad now. I wonder shall I always be glad?” –Gray).
(p29 “I would give my soul for that!” –Gray).

Event II
Gray begins to evolve perspectives, especially egocentric points of views (Quote:
p51 “If one hears bad music, it is one’s duty to drown it in conversation.” – “Ah! That is one of Harry’s (Wotton’s) views isn’t it, Mr Gray?” –Gray in conversation with Lady Henry).
He also egocentrically, without thinking of how Sibyl Vane is affected; criticizes her acting (Quote: p96 “Horribly! It was dreadful, are you ill? You have no idea how it was. You have no idea what I suffered.” –Gray).
This is further backed up in the end of the event when he complacently and egocentrically in a new hedonist manner blames Sibyl Vane of ruining their relationship (Quote: p102 “Cruelty! Had he been cruel? It was the girl’s fault, not his. He had dreamed of her as a great artist, had given love to her because he thought her great. Then she had disappointed him. She had been shallow and unworthy.” –Gray).
His personality is still childish, he says he wants to “explore the world.” (Quote: p54 “You filled me with a wild desire to know everything about life.” –Gray).
And it becomes clear that he is easily manipulated. This is not only because his wish to explore the world is an influence of Wotton, he also answers Wotton statement in page fifty-eight in a peculiar and hypnotized way (Quote: p 58 “All through your life you will tell me everything you do.” –“I believe that is true. I cannot help telling you things.” –Gray in conversation with Wotton).
Gray also starts to deny obvious things; conscience becomes something fuzzy to him. He misinterprets what conscience is, he states that he is perfectly happy (Quote: p109 “I am perfectly happy now. I know what conscience is, to begin with. It is not what you told me it was.” –Gray. But anyone with a conscience can’t be happy or content after such actions).
Thus, it is obvious that what Gray sees as his conscience is not his conscience.
When Sibyl Vane’s death becomes apparent to Gray, he once again shows no conscience when he pictures her death as something beautiful and poetic (Quotes: p111 “So I have murdered Sibyl Vane. –And tonight I am to dine with you, and then go on to the Opera, and sup somewhere. –How extraordinary dramatic life is!” –Gray).
(p123 “It is one of the great romantic tragedies of the age.” –Gray commenting the death of Sibyl Vane).
To conclude, he is self-uncertain, self-righteous and confused and easily affected.

Event III
Gray is now denying everything that appeals to be unpleasant to him. For instance, Hallward addresses Gray with his actions after the death of Sibyl Vane; Gray replies evasively (Quote: p122 “Stop, Basil! I won’t hear it! –You must not tell me about things. What is done is done. What is past is past.” –Gray).
He receives a novel, and tries living his life the same way as the character in the text does, another reminder of how easily affected he is.
When Gray arrives late for his appointment with Wotton, he blames Wotton for his unpunctuality, (Quote: p142 “I am so sorry, Harry, but really it is entirely your fault. That book you sent me so fascinated med that I forgot how the time was going.” –Gray) in a similar hedonistic way as he accused Sibyl Vane (Quote: p102 “Cruelty! Had he been cruel? It was the girl’s fault, not his. He had dreamed of her as a great artist, had given love to her because he thought her great. Then she had disappointed him. She had been shallow and unworthy.” –Gray).
It can be said that; after this event Gray’s personality is dominated by: Egocentrism and narcissism. He also denies everything that he dislikes.

Event IV
Gray is now psychopathic; he kills Hallward, and blackmails Campbell. Interestingly, he becomes a little bit manipulative in this chapter. While blackmailing Campbell, he states that Campbell will do what he asks for, similarly to when Wotton asked him, and as if he had control over Campbell’s mind, compare quotes: (p89 “Harry, you are dreadful! I don’t know why I like you so much.” –“You will always like me, Dorian.” –Gray in conversation with Lord Henry Wotton)
(p193 “If you don’t help me, I must send it. You know what the result will be. But you are going to help me. ” –Gray).


Event V
Throughout the chapter Gray shows signs that he is tired of life (Quote: p203 “I wish it were fin du globe. Life is a great disappointment” –Gray).
His denial of everything, or in essence, his denial of his conscience has now fully developed into a wish to forget everything (Quote: p210 “Ah! For that there was no atonement; but though forgiveness was impossible, forgetfulness was possible still.” –Gray).
He is very presumptuous (Quote: p214 “I am sick of women who love one. Women who hate one are much more interesting.” –Gray).
In the end, he parishes with the hedonistic thought that everything is Hallward’s fault.

3.2 General development of personality.

In chronological order:
I Naïve, neutral, inquisitive, romantic and easily affected.

II Self-uncertain, self-righteous, confused and easily affected

III Egocentric, narcissistic and denying.

IV Signs of psychopathic behaviour and manipulative.

V Hedonistic, disappointed of life and denying.

3.3 Discussion

Gray is easily manipulated, then he becomes a little bit self-righteous while remaining easily affected. He ends up being narcissistic and hedonistic. This is an unmistakeable sign that his real personality is easily affected. The developments have tendencies to turn towards a Hedonistic personality. This is a direct result of Wotton’s influence, and strengthens the theory that he is an easily affected person.
Gray becomes more and more hedonistic, yet mentally ill and tired of life. At the end he is constantly denying things, avoiding topics that make him feel guilty. Could it be that he suffers from a mental illness?
Some of the symptoms of Narcissistic Personal Disorder1 (NPD) are narcissism, emotional and erratic disorders, anxiousness and avoidant. The patient is “Insistent that others see them as they wish to be seen.”
Another symptom is the person being intolerant of others. That is ...

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