The Character of Lord Henry Wotten from The Picture of Dorian GrayThe purpose of this essay is to explore the character of Lord Henry Wotten, from The Picture of Dorian Gray Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde once said: I only know that Dorian Gray is a classic and rightly so. With this in mind, this essay aims to examine how Lord Henry Wotton manipulates various conversations and how he influences history with his defiance. speech, this is why The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic. Henry is such a memorable and intelligently developed character that his influence on the text elevates the value of the novel. In the conversations of Lord Henry Wotton and the behavior of Dorian Gray [Wilde shows that]…. self-expression can be turned into an art. - Acroyd.Lord Henry's conversations are used to introduce humor and intelligence into a tragic story. Lord Henry has a cynical view of the opposite sex, as well as marriage or any form of relationship involving both sexes. Henry says: Men marry because they are tired, women because they are curious: both are disappointed. Henry analyzes marriage here with humor and summarizes it in a phrase typical of his conversation. He says things quickly and clearly so the story can move forward with the humor that comes from the conversation. In this example, Henry gives a rather bleak view of marriage. This theme is further explored when he says: Young men want to be faithful and are not, old men want to be unfaithful and cannot. In this example, Henry explores the driving force between the natures of older men and that of younger men, and how they relate to the opposite sex. He uses irony to demonstrate his knowledge of how men relate to middle of paper......parallel, as Henry's influence on Dorian Gray is obvious, but Dorian Gray does not affect du Henry's whole character. The reader also discovers a contrast with Basil's relationship with Henry. Basil seems to ignore Henry's humorous speeches, dismissing them as "not serious" in nature. Because of this, Henry does not have a negative effect on Basil, as he does on Dorian. Dorian seems to hang on every word Henry gives, while Basil practically ignores what Henry says. Lord Henry's influence in the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray is that he gives a meaningful and ethical story an extra contextual layer. Dorian Gray is a superb story, but the character of Lord Henry Wotton is what elevates the novel to its classic status. Works cited: Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray; For the love of the king. London: Routledge/Thoemmes Press, 1993.