In Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray," Lord Henry Wotton is a pivotal figure who exerts a profound influence on the eponymous protagonist, Dorian Gray. His impact on Dorian's transformation is multifaceted and significant, both philosophically and through the alteration of Dorian's behavior and outlook on life. 1. **Philosophical Influence**: Lord Henry espouses a hedonistic worldview that reveres beauty and pleasure above all else. His articulate and charismatic expression of these ideals captivates Dorian. The young Dorian is impressionable and, upon meeting Lord Henry, becomes enamored with his sophisticated perspective and rhetoric. Henry's philosophy can be summarized by his own words: "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it." This becomes a central tenet in Dorian's subsequent choices and transformations. 2. **Moral Disregard**: Lord Henry often promotes a kind of moral nihilism, suggesting that conventional morality is a constraint on personal freedom and the pursuit of pleasure. His influence encourages Dorian to view conventional morality with disdain and to prioritize the pursuit of individual desires. 3. **Catalyst for Change**: It is Lord Henry who first plants the seed of eternal youth in Dorian's mind. When Dorian expresses a desire to always remain as young and beautiful as he is in Basil Hallward's portrait, it is Lord Henry's philosophies that echo in his wish. This longing leads Dorian to the fateful wish that the painting would bear the brunt of his aging and sins, while he would remain unmarked and beautiful. 4. **Encouragement of Self-Indulgence**: As Dorian begins to explore pleasures in a variety of forms, it is often with the encouragement or provocation of Lord Henry. Lord Henry's musings poetically justify Dorian's self-indulgent behavior, leading him to further embrace a decadent lifestyle devoid of consequence. 5. **Manipulation**: Although not overtly coercive, Lord Henry's influence is manipulative. Dorian becomes somewhat of a project for him, a person to mold and shape according to his worldview. Lord Henry takes pleasure in the control he appears to have over Dorian, as seen in their numerous conversations where Henry's paradoxical and provocative statements often dictate the nature of their relationship. 6. **Erosion of Conscience**: As Dorian delves deeper into a hedonistic lifestyle, he loses his innocence and his ability to empathize with others, which can be directly traced back to Lord Henry's teachings. While Lord Henry might not directly instruct Dorian to commit any deeds, his insidious, ongoing whispers of encouragement effectively erode Dorian's conscience. In conclusion, Lord Henry plays an essential role in Dorian Gray's transformation through his embrace of aestheticism and hedonism, dismissal of morality, and the alluring picture he paints of a life lived for beauty and pleasure. Despite not directly engaging in the actions that lead to Dorian's downfall, Lord Henry's influence acts as a catalyst for Dorian's moral decay, ultimately leading to a life of superficiality and the eventual disintegration of his soul. It's important to note that Lord Henry represents the seductive nature of influence and the dangers of persuasive rhetoric on vulnerable minds, a theme that reflects Wilde's exploration of Victorian society's values and the duality of human nature.