The main symbol in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray was the picture itself. It symbolized Dorian Gray's life. Every one of his decisions, qualities, and secrets was brushed on the gentle, innocent face.
Dorian's harshness towards Sybil Vane was one of the decisions that scarred his portrait. The result was "a touch of cruelty" (105) around his mouth. A dark secret revealed itself upon the painting as "loathsome red dew... on one of the hands" (193). The blood stood for the murder of Basil Hallward. Facial expressions exhibited Dorian's traits. He noticed that "in the mouth [of the portrait]... curved [the] wrinkle of the hypocrite" (245). The painting governed his mind. Dorian sought to escape the painting, but failed in doing so. The painting symbolized his soul and guarded his darkest secrets. He was terrified at the thought of someone else looking at it. It controlled him until the night he mistakingly took his own life.
I like how you pulled examples from the book. For another thing you managed to write more sentences than me! I had trouble finding enough information to write about. Good job on explaining how the portrait changed too!
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