Picture of Dorian Gray VII: Ch. 15-17

Wilde uses biblical imagery to describe the scenery surrounding Dorian when Dorian goes to get opium. Wilde describes the scene as having "here and there a lantern gleam[ing]", where "the light shook and splintered" (137). The heavy light here implies the presence of God. Furthermore, the description "shook" provides an emotion of fear and awe that would be invoked by God. Furthermore, "gleam" is a verb that describes intense, bright light - an appropriate term to describe divine light. By contrast, Satan is present in "a red glare" (137). Red is a color that can imply demonic presence, and thus the "red glare" could be interpreted figuratively as "the angry glare of Satan." The presence of both God and Satan implies a scene of judgement, namely of Dorian's soul, for which the possibility of salvation is uncertain. Thus, the biblical imagery call to mind that Dorian will ultimately have his soul face divine judgement, and foreshadows that Dorian will not escape his crimes forever.