The Black Magic of Art By Hetvi Mehta
In the novel, art is depicted as a negative item. Its symbolizes beauty without a purpose. As Wilde demonstrated through Basil's painting of Dorian, the picture reflects his conscience and inner personality. It is like a mirror of his soul. Since he can't see what he has altered into the portrait reflects the corruption is his transformation. As events unfold, the painting expresses his sins such as the murder of Basil and his drug addiction. The author also refers back to the mythical creatures such as Narcissus, a man who was in love with himself and he ended up drowning in his own refection, and Caliban, a man who saw his face in the mirror and was disgusted by what he had done so he throws the mirror which ends up breaking.
Art is the reflection of self. Whether it reflects the artist or the object that the artist paints, it depicts carefully of a person's hidden truths. The painting of Dorian represents the love Basil has for Dorian, the love purely conveys all the delights Basil seeks of Dorian. However, as one would carefully observe the painting, one by one, little by little, unwanted truths surface. Upon acknowledging the obvious signs of sins, Dorian disguises them as the ugliness in his beauty. Because he does not fully accept his sins, the painting drives him insane with perfecting his life, trying to prove wrong of his true self.