In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde talks about a handsome young man with a dirty secret. If Dorian Gray will forever retain the innocent looks of his youth, his portrait will degenerate with each wrong he commits. Freed and unmarked by his corruption, Dorian behaves as he pleases, performing many unspeakable acts that he must never denounce. Throughout the novel, Wilde explores the theme of the power of secrecy, of which Dorian is just one example. In addition to leading Dorian to horrific crimes, the secret also exerts a huge influence on all of the main characters. It dictates their relationships with each other, is the driving force behind their actions, and even determines their time of death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essaySecrecy is the foundation of all romantic relationships in the novel. “When we are in love, we always begin by deceiving ourselves, and we always end by deceiving others” (Wilde, 197). About marriage, Lord Henry says, “the only charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties” (Wilde, 143). Although Lord Henry's claims are always doubtful, it appears 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 know them" (Wilde, 190). Dorian's relationship with Sybil Vane is certainly no exception. Dorian does not fall in love with her, but with the characters she plays on stage. “Never...she is Sibyl Vane” (Wilde, 200). However, when she reveals herself to Dorian and acts badly, Dorian is furious with disappointment. “You have killed my love...You have 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 like any tragic heroine imagined by Shakespeare. However, when she turns out to be just a naive child, she kills all her possibilities for fantasy. "Before, you excited my imagination. Now you don't even arouse my curiosity" (Wilde, 236). Dorian dissolves the relationship when there is no longer the fantasy and mystery created by the secret of Sybil's true nature. In addition to romantic relationships, secrecy serves as a binding force for all the 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 oblivious to his secret corruption. However, as rumors circulated about his immoral ways, “these whispered scandals only increased, in the eyes of many, his strange and dangerous charm” (Wilde, 299). They know he leads a secret life of crime, but know little of the details. So they are all the more interested in him because his secret gives him a certain allure, a certain aura of mystery. However, the discovery of these secrets marks the end of these relationships. For those who only hear rumors about Dorian's crimes, his secrecy adds a certain charm to his character. However, those with 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 find themselves confronted with the reality of his character, which is anything but charming. They are no longer attracted to him because they have seen his soul in its naked and wicked form, which leaves no possibility of pleasantness. Dorian is well aware of the need to hide the details of his secrets, becoming increasingly paranoid that anyone will discover the painting,fearing that once the secret is revealed, he will lose all his friends and relations. "You (Lord Henry) do not know everything about me. I think if you did, even you would turn away from me" (Wilde, 394). The clearest demonstration of the appeal 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 more... I totally refuse to interfere in your life" (Wilde, 328). This suggests that Alan realizes that knowledge of her secrets would surely draw him to Dorian and intertwine their lives again, just as others are drawn to her mystery. However, Dorian blackmails him into helping him eliminate evidence of the murder. The story does not give details of this exchange, but it can be assumed that the letter Dorian writes and threatens to send would reveal a secret of Alan's. However, after committing this monstrous act, he commits suicide one night in his laboratory, unable to bear the burden of what has now become his and Dorian's secret. Thus, indirectly, his knowledge of Dorian's secrets, and Dorian's knowledge of his, not only ends their current relationship, but also eliminates any possibility of such a relationship in the future. All the major characters in the novel are described in relation to their secrets. For example, Basil is presented as an artist who is strangely and secretly attracted to Dorian. Lord Henry is defined by his secret motive for experimenting with Dorian. We can therefore say that these secrets not only characterize, but also take control of the actions of these characters in the novel. It would therefore seem natural that the secret holds the key to the life of its bearer. The unveiling of his secret represents his death. When Dorian threatens to reveal Alan Campbell's secret, Alan "felt as if his heart was beating to death in an empty hollow" (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 a major factor in his decisions and actions. Similarly, when Basil suggests various ways to absolve Dorian of the corruption depicted in the painting – an attempt to erase Dorian's secret, Dorian suddenly erupts with “the mad passions of a hunted animal” (Wilde, 319). The comparison with the hunted animal suggests that Basil poses a great threat to Dorian's life. Her desire to rid him of his secrets poses a threat to his very existence. Faced with the threat Basil poses to his secret and his life, Dorian has no choice but to assassinate him, once again carrying out what the secret demands of him. Perhaps the best example of the symbol of death as the unveiling of the secret lies in Dorian's own death. Hoping to “kill the past” and erase all his secret sins, he stabs the painting (Wilde, 390). However, rather than killing the painting and freeing himself of all the secrets it holds, he kills himself and is marked by his own corruption while the painting is absolved. This transformation can be considered as an unveiling of his secret. The depravity of his soul, hidden for so long by the painting, finally shines through his corpse. Dorian Gray's death coincides with the revelation of his secret criminality. However, even this revelation of Dorian's greatest secret can be seen as another way in which the secret is spread. 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 his involvement in Sybil Vane's death. By discovering the secret of the portrait,,.