Final answer:
Dorian Gray's external and internal transformations mirror the novel's exploration of Victorian hypocrisy, morality versus self-indulgence, and the perils of aestheticism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transformation of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray reflects the broader themes of Victorian hypocrisy, the struggle between morality and self-indulgence, and the dangers of aestheticism. Dorian's initial physical beauty symbolizes purity and innocence, but as he indulges in sinful pleasures.
His portrait becomes grotesque, embodying his moral degradation. This dichotomy between his unchanged appearance and the deformed portrait illustrates the tension between society's superficial values and the hidden reality of moral decay. The psychological transformation of Dorian Gray, driven by hedonism, and his ultimate despair.
Underscores the novel's critique of the era's societal norms and the potential consequences of abandoning ethical considerations for personal gratification. This transformation reflects the novel's themes of the deceitfulness of appearances and the destructive power of immorality.