What does Dorian killing Basil symbolize?

In fact, when Basil is killed, it is a sign of the death of real beauty, ironically at the hands of Dorian, a supposed lover of beauty and a sign of ultimate corruption, callousness and ugliness. And finally, the symbolism of Dorian himself, particularly his portrait, which bears the moral heart of the story.

What does Dorian killing Basil represent?

Dorian seems to receive some sort of message from the image on the canvas and is driven to murder his old friend. Basil's death conveniently removes the most immediate and serious threat to Dorian's way of life and his pact with the forces of evil.

What does Dorian represent for Basil?

Basil's attraction to Dorian seems to be both professional and personal. Dorian inspires Basil to a new vision of art, combining Greek perfection with Romantic passion. However, there is every implication of something more personal in the attraction.

Why does Dorian stab Basil?

He begs Dorian to kneel and pray for forgiveness, but Dorian claims it is too late. Glancing at his picture, Dorian feels hatred welling up within him. He seizes a knife and stabs Basil repeatedly.

What does Dorian Gray's death symbolize?

Dorian kills himself in the picture just to eliminate all the evidences which reminded him his wicked life, hoping this will also make him redeem from his sins. The portrait symbolizes the physical aspect of Dorian's soul.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE // ANIMATED BOOK SUMMARY

What does Basil mean in Dorian Gray?

Lord Henry misinterprets Basil as feeling the portrait looks like himself, but Basil means that his adoration of Dorian shows plainly through the painting. To Basil, good artists must not let any of themselves show in their art. The reader can see immediately Basil's integrity in his commitment to pure art.

Why did Dorian hate Basil?

In Basil's horror Dorian can see the total loss of his innocence—he hates Basil because Basil knew him when he was innocent, and because in painting the portrait Basil started Dorian on the road away from innocence.

What is the significance of the portrait Basil is working on?

What is the significance of the portrait Basil is working on? He says it is important because he "put much of himself into it" and it is his greatest work. According to Basil, how has Dorian affected his work as an artist? He sees and thinks of everything differently.

What could Dorian be the symbol of?

According to Lord Henry Watton's words, Dorian could become the symbol of a new form of hedonism, that is the pursuit of pleasure as the greatest goal in life (see lines 24-25).

Does Dorian kiss Basil in the book?

Instead of subtly leading Basil to his confession, Dorian steers the conversation away by kissing Basil, who eventually gives in to his passion and succumbs to a sexual encounter. Basil is pushed into a subjugated, almost submissive position, while Dorian stands above him, preparing for a sexual act.

What is the main message of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

The main theme of The Picture of Dorian Gray is the relationship between beauty and morality. Oscar Wilde plays on the Renaissance idea of the correspondence between the physical and spiritual realms: beautiful people are moral people; ugly people are immoral people.

Does Basil have a crush on Dorian?

The main focus of the book is on its male characters: Dorian, Basil and Lord Henry. Basil has quite a detectable crush on Dorian, and while Dorian and Henry do have relationships with women, they treat these women rather poorly in favor of their own friendship.

How old was Dorian when he killed Basil?

Finally, when he is thirty-eight years old, Dorian shows the portrait to Basil, who begs Dorian to repent of his sin and ask that the wish be revoked. Instead, Dorian kills Basil and hides his body. Blackmailing his old friend Alan Campbell, Dorian is able to dispose of Basil's body.

Who does Basil represent in Dorian Gray?

The character Basil Hallward represents Oscar Wilde's own homosexual alter ego. the part of his personality that admires and is attracted to beautiful men. Basil also represents the artist in Wilde and conveys his opinions on beauty and this aesthetic movement in art.

How does Dorian manipulate Basil?

Basil finally agrees not to exhibit the portrait and leaves. At the end of the chapter, Dorian marvels at how he was spared from telling his own secret and, instead, managed to manipulate his friend into telling his secret. He vows to keep the portrait hidden away forever.

What influence does Basil have on Dorian?

Basil in this way attempts to make his influence over Dorian one of a positive nature of emotional growth and connectedness rather than a life of hedonism as Henry is trying to sway him to, in that way; Basil is arguably a good influence over Dorian, promoting love and kindness over coldness and egotism.

Why did Dorian turn evil?

The charm of the youth is what made Dorian pure evil from the innocent man he was. Swayed by what Henry said, he wanted to grab on to his youth and that was where the tragedy happened. To want to become young again and to clutch on one's youth while one still has it is every person's desire.

Is Dorian a hero or villain?

Broadly, Dorian is an antihero in that his character, as M. H. Abrams and Geoffrey Harpham say, “is widely discrepant from that of the traditional protagonist, or hero” (14).

Why is basil important?

Having antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, basil helps maintain skin health, boosts digestion and detoxifies the body. It also helps in the prevention and cure of diseases like cancer, diabetes and other heart conditions. Fresh basil contains Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Iron, Manganese, Calcium, and essential oils.

What is the historical significance of basil?

Basil has been around for over 4,000 years. Throughout history, basil was believed to have almost magical powers. It was used as an antidote for snake bites, and was believed to give strength during religious fasting. It was found in mummies in Egypt because the ancient Egyptians used this herb for embalming.

What happens to Dorian's portrait after he kills basil?

But the plan backfires dramatically: by stabbing the portrait, Dorian inadvertently kills himself. The grotesque deformities of the picture come into being in Dorian's own body, while painted Dorian is restored to its original image of spotless beauty.

Why was The Picture of Dorian Gray controversial?

Despite that censorship, The Picture of Dorian Gray offended the moral sensibilities of British book reviewers. They immediately criticized the novel's decadence and homosexual allusions, calling it “unclean, poisonous, and heavy with the mephitic odors of moral and spiritual putrefaction.”

What is the relationship between Dorian and Basil?

Basil is the painter of Dorian Gray's portrait. From the beginning of their relationship on, he feels that he found his muse in Dorian, who, in Basil's eyes, embodies the Greek ideal of harmony between body and soul (DG 13).

Who was Dorian Gray in love with?

Sibyl Vane – a talented actress and singer, she is a beautiful girl from a poor family with whom Dorian falls in love.

Who is Dorian obsessed with?

A few weeks later, Dorian tells Henry that he has fallen in love with an actress, Sibyl Vane, because of her great beauty and acting talent. Henry and Basil go with him to a dingy theatre to see Sibyl, but her performance is terrible.