Didn’t Your Parents Tell You to Never Talk to Strangers?

We have all heard the line, “Don’t talk to strangers.” Do we follow this rule? Perhaps. Did Dorian? No, he did not. Thus, the third theme that encompassed the entire novel was influence and corruption. Although Basil was the one that instigated the meeting between his two friends, it was Dorian that blindly threw himself headfirst into a friendship with Henry. He did not heed any of Basil’s warnings about Henry’s manipulative ways, rather he believed himself sensible enough to deny any urges. Henry’s words had a hypnotic power that lured people to listen and adhere to his philosophies. He made Dorian believe beauty should be valued, and vanity became Dorian’s fatal flaw.

Secondly, Sybil Vane was influenced by Dorian and corrupted by having taken her life. Once Henry manipulated Dorian, Dorian began to exert power over others in his life. When Dorian and Sybil first met, their intentions were innocent and playful. However when he began to make more of an appearance in her life, he changed it for the worst. She, like Dorian to Henry, let him in her life which led her to her demise.