The first character introduced was not Dorian Gray but Lord Henry Wotton who corrupts Dorian into a edonistic lifestyle which ultimately leads to his demise. Legend depicts the devil wearing many faces and this proves true as he wore the face of Lord Henry Wotton while influencing Dorian throughout his Faustian Bargain. A Faustian bargain derived from the German legend of Dr. Faust who made a deal with the devil in exchange for knowledge. The story became so popular and rewritten over time that Dr. Faust''s tale became known as a Faustian Bargain. There are many similarities between the old legend and the story of Dorian Gray.
Both characters are willing to exchange their soul for something beyond their mortal limits. For Dr. Faust it was knowledge but for Dorian it was youth. Also in both stories, an innocent girl''s life is destroyed by the corruption of the two characters under the influence of the devil. During their decent towards evil, both Dr. Faustian and Dorian fall further under the influence of the devil committing all of the seven deadly sins until their ultimate demise. Dr. Faust was not the first tale of dealing with the devil Just one of the more popular stories.
The devil wears many faces and may appear in any shape or form in which he chooses making it impossible to determine who he will influence next (Kulik, 95-220). Lord Henrys interest in Dorian spawned from Basil''s obsession with the boy. Lord Henry could not influence Basil with his poisonous words but saw a chance to strike a deal when Basil confesses that he has given his soul to someone who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat. At first Basil doe not even want to reveal his portrait because he put too much of himself in it and he does not want to bare his soul to prying eyes.
Wilde then describes Lord Henrys fascinations in life as "One''s own soul, and the passion''s of one''s own friends. Since Basil gave his soul to Dorian, Lord Henry would need to have Dorian''s soul to have Basil''s. (Wilde, 13-15) Many details about Lord Henrys introduction to Dorian gives clues that the devil is behind the mask. The devil prays on the weak and vulnerable. Dorian is at first afraid of Lord Henry but somehow enchanted by his words. Lord Henry constantly refers back to sin as being a way to induce pleasure and pleasing the senses is the only way to sure the soul.
After lord Henrys words first poisoned the boy Wilde described Dorian new perspective as "Life suddenly became fiery-colored to him. It seemed to im that he had been walking in After Lord Henry had his hooks in Dorian he explained to the boy that beauty was everything and that Dorian had been given a gift of good-looks that had an expiration date. Dorian had never realized that looks were so important but Basil''s portrait validated Lord Henrys words. Lord Henry is always at the right place at the right time to influence Dorian into deeper deadly sins during the time of his bargain with the devil.
His first sin was pride which leads him to the bargain because he was unsatisfied with being mortal and felt he deserved more (McAlidon, 218). Dorian also follows the same path throughout his own pact. Dorian struck a deal for eternal youth but only because Lord Henry played on the sin of pride. Dorian believed the evil words Lord Henry said about the power youth and beauty can give a person. Dorian knew he had those gifts and did not want to lose them hence trading his soul to the devil to keep age and beauty. He had a chance to repent when Basil offered to destroy the painting in which his soul was captured.
Dorian refused and said he is in love with the painting meaning himself (Wilde, 30). "The reason we like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid of urselves... We think that we are generous because we credit our neighbor with the possession of those virtues that are likely to be a benefit to us. "(79) Lord Henry explains to Dorian that he is in love with Sybil Vane only because she has something he wants. Dorian Envies Sibyl because of her artistic performance in her acting. He wants to show her off to Basil and Lord Henry looking for approval.
However, when Sybil''s performance is diluted by her love for Dorian, he no longer enws her and scorns her for displeasing him. Sibyl kills herself for love and Dorian commits his second sin, Enw. Although Dorian feels guilt and shame for his actions, Lord Henry is always available to make sure he does not take the high road. He instills fear into Dorian by saying he might be held accountable for the suicide and sends him newspaper articles in red to symbolize blood spilled. The constant reminders drive Dorian towards paranoia making it easier to fall into sin.
At one point Basil tries to help Dorian by reminding him of the impact he has on the outside world. By this time Dorian is so overwhelmed by paranoia and fear that he does something drastic. Dorian decides to let Basil see the horror his sins have one to his true face. The evil inside Dorian filled him with a raging fire of hatred Just as the deadly sin of Anger is associated with fire (Theology The Seven deadly Sins). Dorian wanted Basil to see what he had created and all the sins the picture keeps hidden. "Dorian glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him... nd he loathed the man who was seated at the table more than in his whole life he had ever loathed anything. " (Wilde, 102). The sin of anger drove Dorian to commit murder. As always Lord Henry was there to make ure Dorian stayed on the path towards destruction by questioning Dorian about Basil''s disappearance. "Lord Henrys casual questioning had made [Dorian] lose his nerve for the moment, and he wanted his nerve still. "(187). The only way Dorian knew to calm his nerves was to feed his senses. Lust and Gluttony are the two ways Dorian knows how to forget about the sins of his soul. Though forgiveness was impossible, forgetfulness was still possible. " (189). Dorian was famous for taking a singles woman''s virtue and ruining the reputation of easily influenced gentlemen. He would escape from reality by indulging in opium at a lace on the outskirts of town so no one would see him. However, the devil''s influence has no bounds. A woman knew who Dorian was in taunting him said, "There goes the devil''s bargain. "(194). She also called him a nickname in which she could not have moment Sybil''s brother who had been overseas overheard the conversation.
The devil intervening again lead Dorian to a place of paranoia as Sybil''s brother James Vane was not on the hunt for his sister''s murderer. Just as Dorian thought he was done for by the revenge of James Vane, Lord Henry happened to be there when James was accidentally shot in a hunting accident. The accident was no accident but the devil showing Dorian that he has control of the fate of his subject. No man will end Dorian''s life before his deal has finished (Lovett, 210). Sloth is the last sin that Dorian commits before Death.
Sloth is known as doing nothing or laziness (Theology The Seven Deadly Sins). Dorian tries to change his ways but Lord Henry is always there to poison him with temptation. Dorian never faced reality or asked for forgiveness for the sins he committed. In a last attempt to change what has become of him, Dorian stabbed the painting that displayed all the evil in his soul. Since the devil is a trickster, Dorian ended up taking his own life in the process. In Christian religion, suicide is a sin and the person would not be allowed into the gates of Heaven (Lovett, 167).
Dorian damned himself by committing all the seven deadly sins and sealed his fate by taking his own life. Lord Henry used Dorian as a puppet to do his dirty work. Dorian''s high status as a gentleman and charm easily distracted others from seeing the truth about his character. He was a symbol to be envied and many were influenced by Dorian. The devil, known as Lord Henry used Dorian to attract other unsuspecting victims in opes to strike a new bargain. Right before Dorian''s deal came to an end, Lord Henry revealed the next soul he planned to take "...
Lord Poole, Bournemouth''s eldest son. He has already copied your neckties, and has begged me to introduce him to you. He is quite delightful, and rather reminds me of you. "(Gray,223) Dorian, left alone with no one to teach him of the evil in the world, was taken under the wing of something far greater than himself. The temptations of the devil are hard for anyone to fight especially someone as easily influenced as Dorian. Much like many other stories involving making a pact with the devil, the story of Dorian Gray was very similar to Dr. Fustian''s deal with the devil.
The two characters descended through all the seven deadly sins before damning themselves to a life in hell. The devil in the story of "The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is played by the cynical character of Lord Henry Wotton. He is always there for Dorian when he needs some guidance but unfortunately he guides Dorian in the wrong direction for personal gain. The devil collects the souls of those who are willing to make a trade for something they want more than life itself. Dorian was unlucky enough to want youth and beauty more than a moral life.
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