In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde writes about a beautiful young man with a bad secret. Although Dorian Gray will forever retain the innocent appearance of his youth, his portrait will degenerate with every wrong he commits. Free and unscarred by its corruption, Dorian behaves as he pleases, carrying out numerous unspeakable acts that he will never have to report. Throughout the novel, Wilde explores the theme of the power of secrecy, of which Dorian is just one example. In addition to pushing Dorian to commit horrible crimes, secrecy also exerts a huge influence on all of the main characters. It dictates their relationships with each other, is the impetus behind their actions, and even determines their time of death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Secrecy is the foundation of all romantic relationships in the novel. “When you are in love, you always begin by deceiving yourself, and you always end up deceiving others” (Wilde, 197). Of marriage, Lord Henry states, “the only charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deceit absolutely necessary for both parties” (Wilde, 143). Although Lord Henry's claims are always dubious, it seems that his wife Victoria knows very little about him. "I always hear Harry's point of view from his friends. It's the only way I get to know them" (Wilde, 190). Dorian's relationship with Sybil Vane is certainly no exception. Dorian falls in love not with her, but with the characters she transforms into on stage. “Never… she is Sibyl Vane” (Wilde, 200). However, when he reveals his true self to Dorian and misbehaves, Dorian is furious with disappointment. “You killed my love… You ruined the romance of my life” (Wilde, 237). It seems that before Sybil reveals her true nature, Dorian can imagine her as he wishes and believe her to be one of Shakespeare's tragic heroines. However, when she turns out to be nothing more than a naive child, it kills all her possibilities of fantasy. "You once stimulated my imagination. Now you don't even stimulate my curiosity" (Wilde, 236). Dorian dissolves the relationship when there is no longer the fantasy and mystery created by the secrecy of Sybil's true nature. In addition to romantic relationships, secrecy serves as a binding force for all characters in the novel. Initially, Dorian is accepted into high society because no one knows his true nature. They believe in his innocent face and find him charming beyond measure, completely unaware of his secret corruption. However, as rumors circulate about his immoral ways, “these whispered scandals only increased, in the eyes of many, his strange and dangerous allure” (Wilde, 299). They are aware that he leads a secret life of crime, but know little of the details. So they are even more interested in him because his secrecy gives him a certain charm, a certain aura of mystery. However, the discovery of these secrets marks the end of these relationships. For those who only hear rumors of Dorian's crimes, his secrecy adds a certain charm to his character. However, those who have full knowledge of his corruptions, “those who had been most intimate with him seemed… to avoid him” (Wilde, 299). When one of Dorian's secrets is revealed, they are forced to face the reality of his character, which is anything but glamorous. They are no longer attracted to him because they have seen his soul in its naked and evil form, which leaves no chance for anything pleasant. Dorian is well aware of the need to hide the details of his secrets, becoming so paranoid that someone might discover the painting, fearing that once the secret is revealed, he would lose all his friends and relatives."You (Lord Henry) do not know everything about me. I think if you did, you would turn me away too" (Wilde, 394). The clearest demonstration of both the attraction and purpose of secrecy can be seen in Alan Campbell. As Dorian begins to tell him about Basil's murder, Alan refuses to hear any more. "Stop, Gray. I don't want to know anything else... I absolutely decide to meddle in your life" (Wilde, 328). This suggests that Alan realizes that knowledge of his secrets would surely draw him to Dorian and re-entwine their lives, just as others are drawn to his mysteriousness. However, he is blackmailed by Dorian into helping him release the evidence of the murder. The narrative provides no details of this exchange, but it can be assumed that the letter Dorian writes and threatens to send would reveal some of Alan's secrets. However, after carrying out the monstrous act, he shoots himself in his laboratory one night, unable to bear the weight of what has now become his and Dorian's secret. So, indirectly, her knowledge of Dorian's secrets, and Dorian's knowledge of hers, not only ends their current relationship but also eliminates any possibility of this happening in the future. All the main characters of the novel are described in relation to their secrets. For example, Basil is presented as an artist strangely and secretly attracted to Dorian. Lord Henry is defined by his secret motive of experimenting with Dorian. It can therefore be said that these secrets not only characterize, but also take control over the actions of these characters in the novel. It would therefore seem natural that the secret contains the key to the life of its owner. The revelation of his secret represents his death. When Dorian threatens to reveal Alan Campbell's secret, Alan "felt as if his heart were beating to death in an empty cavity" (Wilde, 332). He has no choice but to comply with Dorian's demands due to the threat to his life. The importance of secrecy now becomes an important factor in his decisions and actions. Likewise, when Basil suggests various ways to absolve Dorian of the corruption that the painting depicts – an attempt to erase Dorian's secret, Dorian suddenly explodes with "the mad passions of a hunted animal" (Wilde, 319). The comparison with the hunted animal suggests that Basil is a great threat to Dorian's life. Her desire to free him from his secrets represents a threat to his very existence. Faced with Basil's threat to his secret and his life, Dorian has no choice but to kill him, once again carrying out what secrecy requires of him. Perhaps the best example of the symbol of death as the unveiling of the secret lies in the death of Dorian. Hoping to “kill the past” and erase all his secret sins, he stabs the image (Wilde, 390). However, instead of killing the image and freeing himself from all the secrets it holds, he kills himself and is left scarred by his own corruption as the image is absolved. This transformation can be seen as the revelation of his secret. The depravity of his soul, which for so long was hidden by the painting, finally shines through his corpse. Dorian Gray's death coincides with the discovery of his secret criminality. However, this revelation of Dorian's greatest secret can also be seen as another way in which the secret is propagating. From beginning to end, the text is the revelation of a series of secrets, but each revelation is replaced by another secret. Dorian's whole life is an effort to hide something, but that something is constantly changing. He first covers up his involvement in Sybil Vane's death. After discovering the secret of the portrait,,.