Big Question- "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

    My big question for "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is how can one decision affect the outcome of your life? In started out with an artists and a well known man, the artist, Basil, wanted to paint the young man, Dorian. Basil painted many art works of Dorian. Henry, a friend of Basil, wanted to meet Dorian. At first the artist didn’t want them to meet. He wanted Dorian to himself. Finally he gave in and let them meet. On their first meeting Dorian was wary of Henry because he made him think about life in a way he never thought, like how he wanted to be young forever and look the same.  From then on Dorian was around Henry more and Basil less. Henry convinced Dorian to go to see a play where he met an actress. He fell in love with her because of her acting. However when he brought his friends, she acted horribly. Afterwards Dorian said she never wanted to see her again. Because of this she killed herself. Dorian felt somewhat responsible at first until he talked about it with Henry.

    Later, he went to see his painting and had realized that it changed. Its expression changed. It seemed older. He came to conclude that the picture would change over time and not him, ever since he prayed to be young forever. From then on Dorian was liked less and less. People were cautious around him because of him unchanged appearance over time and behaviors. The painting grew older and older, locked away in a private room to which he was the only one with a key. Only one other person saw it, Basil. Unfortunately, Dorian killed him. For some reason he grew angry with Basil and attacked him.

    Basil would’ve still lived if Dorian had made different choices and felt more compassionate about people. He shouldn’t have listened to Henry or possible even met him. Things would have been completely different for him and everyone else.