“For the wonderful beauty that had fascinated Basil Hallward, and many other besides him, seemed never to leave him. Even those who had learn the most evil things against him… could not believe anything to his dishonor when they saw him” (Wilde 131).

It is a strange fascination that people have with beauty, a lot of times beauty seems to conceal all evil. Some people are able to hide themselves behind the façade that looks create, and what gives them the ability to do so is the admiration it comes with. One of perfect example of this is societies in the twenty first century. The people who plaster on poster and who are suppose to model normality are the most beautiful people in the world. Plus when you add technology into the equation it creates flawless people. Model and good looking people are idolized in our current society. Also just based on your looks you have many more advantages and this is true for Dorian Grey. Dorian’s beauty acts like a veil in his life, it cover everything his sin and his shame and no one is able to see it. He became beauty itself: “He might really become to the London of his day what to imperial Neronian Rome…had been… to be consulted on the wearing of a jewel, or knotting of a necktie, or the conduct of a cane” (133). Dorian loved it. He would contemplate a few times about what he had done but so far he is enjoying himself. So far what Lord Henry had told him is working out for the best. Dorian is utilizing the only thing he has for is own benefits, but in a bad way. He is using the powers he gains from the picture as not something to become a better person but as a scapegoat.


“He would sit in front of the picture, sometimes loathing it himself, but filled at other times, with pride of individualism that is half the fascination of sin, smiling with secrete pleasure, at the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should have been his own” (144).

It seems for everything that is good it brings something bad. Life is just has a way to never bring about perfection. Everything seems to be flawed in the world, and perfection is an idealistic view of life. Dorian was given a great gift with the portrait, but with it comes other problems. He is able to lock away all his sin, but he was not able to forget about the object that bore all of his sin. He obsesses about the picture fearing that someone would dare see his true nature: “He hated being separated from the picture that was such part of his life, and was also afraid that during his absence some one might gain access to the room” (144). This brought a constant worry into his life. Dorian worries and worries about the picture but what is the purpose of worrying is you will not do anything to change the situation. He has become paranoid because he knows that he is nothing but hallow because all of the internal feeling he should have are being felt by a portrait and not him. Nonetheless, the pride he speaks of is understandable. Who in this world has an unanimated object feeling useless emotions for him? He is one of the luckier lads in London with an extraordinary gift.