Dorain Gray: Question#4

The “hero” in this book is Dorian Gray. Now is he really a hero? Some would say no. But he does, indeed, serve that purpose in the novel. Dorian Gray’s goal in the book is too find a way to escape his sins and forget about the evil things he has done in his life. He, unfortunately, does actually succeed in a way. He wished that he could destroy everything that would remind him of his sins and get rid of everything linked to what he had done. He tries to destroy the picture but in doing this destroys himself. He also accomplishes another goal. Later on in the book he makes a new goal to be good and to turn from his evil ways. By the end of the book he regrets what’s he’s done and he understands the evil he’s committed. It says, “He would never again tempt innocence. He would be good.” (Wilde 227) By the end of the book, it also says this, “He knew that he had tarnished himself, filled his mind with corruption, and given horror to his fancy; that he had been an evil influence to others, and had experienced a terrible joy in doing so; and that the lives that had crossed his own had been the fairest and the most full of promise that he had brought to shame. But was it all irretrievable? Was there hope for him?” (Wilde 225) In the end Dorian Gray knew he did wrong and wanted to change himself. Dorian is portrayed as a handsome and kind man, but at the end of the book he is seen as cruel and corrupted. I think he represents the abstract idea of evil. He tempts others and ruins reputations. He’s constantly doing bad things then feeling sorry, but he never does a thing to correct himself. He never changes his ways.

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Barns & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.