1. **Influence**:

Question

- **Expression**: In the early chapters, characters often express their influence over one another through dialogue and actions, shaping their identities and decisions.
- **Evidence**: Look for instances where a character manipulates another’s choices or opinions. For example, if one character sways another to join a cause or adopt a certain belief, it highlights their influence.

2. **Friendship**:
- **Expression**: The development of friendships can be illustrated through shared experiences, conflicts, and alliances. Characters often reveal their loyalty and trustworthiness in these moments.
- **Evidence**: Identify scenes where characters confide in each other or support one another in a difficult situation. Quotes that showcase support or vulnerability can serve as strong evidence of friendship dynamics.

3. **Power**:
- **Expression**: Power dynamics are often established through social hierarchies, conflict, or competition among characters. The struggle for power can manifest in verbal confrontations, manipulation, or betrayal.
- **Evidence**: Look for scenes depicting one character exerting control over another or attempting to rise in status. Descriptions of how characters position themselves in relation to others can illustrate the clear exercise of power. the book is “The picture of Dorian Gray”

Answer 1

Certainly! "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is rich in themes of influence, friendship, and power. Here’s a breakdown with examples related to each of these themes:

1. Influence

• Expression: The influence in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is predominantly illustrated through Lord Henry Wotton's charismatic and hedonistic philosophy, which he introduces to Dorian Gray.
• Evidence: After Dorian meets Lord Henry, he undergoes a transformation where his initial innocence is overshadowed by a desire for a life of pleasure and aesthetic experience. For instance, when Dorian decides to embrace a life of indulgence after hearing Lord Henry’s views on beauty and youth, this manipulation is evident in how Lord Henry successfully sways Dorian's thoughts and decisions, leading to Dorian’s eventual moral decline.

2. Friendship

• Expression: The bond between Dorian and Basil Hallward highlights the complexities of friendship throughout the narrative. Basil’s admiration for Dorian exhibits a protective yet possessive quality, reflecting different facets of friendship.
• Evidence: When Basil expresses concern over Lord Henry’s influence on Dorian, it showcases his loyalty: “I want to see you happy. I want to see you… be your own master.” Basil's vulnerability when he confesses his feelings for Dorian, along with his reluctance to let Dorian stray from a virtuous path, illustrates both the depth and tension within their friendship, especially as Dorian becomes increasingly detached and corrupted.

3. Power

• Expression: The struggle for power is prominent throughout the novel, particularly illustrated in the relationship dynamics between Dorian, Lord Henry, and Basil. Dorian’s initial submission to Basil’s artistic vision shifts as he becomes more aware of his own allure and charm.
• Evidence: As Dorian gains awareness of his own beauty and begins to indulge in a life of excess, he starts to assert power over Basil by controlling his portrait’s fate. A pivotal moment is when Dorian expresses the desire to keep the portrait hidden away, thereby symbolically controlling the power of his own image and destiny. Additionally, Dorian’s eventual manipulation and betrayal of others, such as the way he leads Sibyl Vane to believe in a romance that he does not truly invest in, reflects a deeper theme of how power can corrupt and distort relationships.

By examining these themes within "The Picture of Dorian Gray," we can see how Wilde skillfully explores the intricate connections between influence, friendship, and power, ultimately revealing the darker sides of human relationships and the consequences of a life devoid of moral integrity.