Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Oscar Wilde's play, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and how the origins of sin are presented in the play. The paper uses examples from the play to show how, for Wilde, sin has its origin in awareness and knowledge of desire, just like the fall from grace in Eden. The paper explains how the main character, Dorian, becomes sinful in his knowledge and his awareness of his own beauty and this leads to his downfall.

From the Paper:

"Again, there is scarlet, but this is the scarlet of blood letting, not an innocent blush of the young Dorian's lips. Once again, at the words of Lord Henry, even the older and more jaded Dorian is moved to tremble. He blanches at the sight of the picture, but for a different reason, because he can see the monster he has become, rather than fears the passage of age as he did as a young man. His own portrait is described as loathsome, like a serpent, and the diction of the passage is Biblical and elevated, "the scarlet of blood," "desire," and "scarlet dew" as a euphemism for blood."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Full e-text available 3 Nov 2007 at http://www.upword.com/wilde/dorgray.html#3

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