Dorian + Vanity

After reading and discussing "The Picture of Dorian Gray", the central theme of vanity and its repercussions has become known. Not only was the seed of self-admiration planted by Dorian himself, there were others in his life who nurtured it as well. Lord Henry and Basil Hallward for example fitted the roles as "gardeners" in this case. Lord Henry was always the one to tell Dorian "when your youth goes, your beauty will go with it, and then you will discover that there are no triumphs left for you" (28), or that "...youth is the one thing worth having" (29). Lord Henry was a huge influence on Dorian Gray. Not a positive one at that. Basil Hallward also urged Dorian's vain lifestyle on by consistently complimenting his appearance. Such words helped mold Dorian Gray into the vain man that he was. However, Dorian himself let it happen. He could have avoided these influences in his life that would have made a major difference in the conceited fellow he turned out to be.