Dorian Gray, the protagonist of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, is brought to ruin due to his naivety and innocence, which allowed him to be easily influenced by wit and by the gentle intellect of Lord Henry. From his first meeting with Dorian, Lord Henry recognizes the potential of experimenting with his own ability to influence others. Dorian's purity allows him to be immediately fascinated by every word Lord Henry says, so much so that he begins to see Lord Henry not only as a role model, but also as an ideal that he wishes to realize for himself. As a result of this overwhelming desire to be like Lord Henry, Dorian allows him to guide his choices and decisions through Lord Henry's philosophy of life and the detective story. Lord Henry's approach to life is simultaneously hedonistic and cynical, with his sole dedication to the pursuit of pleasure, which can only be satisfied by giving in to temptation. The vital part of Lord Henry's hedonistic philosophy includes the pursuit and worship of the highest forms of beauty. It is for this reason that Lord Henry takes such a keen interest in Dorian, who is described by all as the essence of physical beauty. He realizes that he has already captivated young Dorian, and if he gains complete control, he can mold the perfect man. “With a thin smile, Lord Henry watched him... He felt intensely interested. He was astonished at the sudden impression his words had made…” (Wilde, 20) However, the control that Lord Henry possesses over Dorian transforms Dorian into a monster rather than a perfect man. Lord Henry's corruption of Dorian begins when he prophetically states to Dorian that "there is no such thing as a good influence...all influence is immoral" (Wilde, 18). From this then...... half of the paper...... the desire to act is born... The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world their shame. That's all” (Wilde, 192). Dorian Gray is a great example of a literary character brought down by the corruption of influence. Dorian's innocence and purity make him an easy victim for those who have already been corrupted by the influence. Lord Henry's corruption was caused by the Yellow Book, which led him to seek all that is pleasant and beautiful in life. Dorian, the essence of physical beauty, was seen in Lord Henry's eyes as just another object of pleasure. As a result, he felt no remorse for influencing Dorian's life to the point of complete destruction. If Lord Henry had not seen Dorian's beauty, Dorian would never have been influenced to live a hedonistic life, which ultimately led to the destruction of his body, mind and soul..