What are three themes that you see being expressed within chapters 3-5 of "the picture of dorain gray"? How are these themes being expressed? Please use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Question

Some Theme Examples:
1. Who you are is a direct result of who you choose to associate with.
2. We all have power that we must choose to use for good or evil.

Pick a theme topic and then select a quote showing how it is being expressed in the story. Be sure to also include some of your own reasoning as well on how your selected quote supports your chosen theme topic.

Theme 1:
Evidence:
Commentary:

Theme 2:
Evidence:
Commentary:

Theme 3:
Evidence:
Commentary:

Answer 1

Certainly! Here are three themes expressed in chapters 3-5 of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" along with supporting evidence and commentary.

Theme 1: The Influence of Society and Companionship on Identity

Evidence: In chapter 3, Lord Henry Wotton influences Dorian by exposing him to a life of hedonism and aestheticism. He asserts, “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.”

Commentary: This quote illustrates how Dorian’s identity begins to shift under Lord Henry’s influence. The theme of social influence is evident as Lord Henry's philosophies challenge Dorian's previously innocent perspective. Dorian's willingness to adopt Lord Henry’s views demonstrates how susceptible individuals can be to the ideologies of those they associate with, ultimately suggesting that our surroundings and companions significantly shape who we become.

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Theme 2: The Duality of Human Nature

Evidence: In chapter 4, Dorian reflects on the changes occurring within him after hearing Lord Henry's philosophies. He muses, “I knew that I would be a different man... I would become the man of my own imagination.”

Commentary: Here, Dorian acknowledges the tension between his inner desires and the moral standards imposed by society. This recognition of duality underscores the theme of the internal struggle between good and evil that many characters face. Dorian's fascination with his own potential for transformation hints that he is becoming aware of a darker side to his identity, a duality he may embrace or flee from. This foreshadows his later moral decline influenced by the hedonistic lifestyle promoted by Lord Henry.

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Theme 3: The Consequences of Aestheticism and Moral Indifference

Evidence: In chapter 5, after Dorian sees the portrait created by Basil Hallward, he expresses his wish that he could remain young and the painting would age instead, stating, “I would give my soul for that!”

Commentary: This moment captures Dorian’s growing obsession with beauty and eternal youth, exemplifying the dangers of aestheticism devoid of moral consideration. The desire to separate his physical appearance from moral consequences illustrates a fundamental theme regarding the emptiness of a life focused solely on pleasure. Dorian’s wish reflects a moral indifference that will catalyze a series of destructive choices, emphasizing that a commitment to beauty over ethics leads to corruption and ultimately, downfall.

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These themes illustrate the complexity of human nature and social influence as they are intricately explored through Dorian's character development in the early chapters of Wilde's novel.