It can be said that a certain degree of darkness lies within every person, but this darkness will not surface unless given the correct environment. The darkness, however, can emerge and ultimately destroy the person if not checked by reason. Eventually we find out that both Dorian, from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Kurtz, from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, are defeated by their darkness and fall prey to its wrath. This theme is very much reflected by the books" setting, plot structure and characterization, we all have the potential to be evil because evil exists within all of us. It shows how individuals can slowly deteriorate because of the evil lying within themselves. The evil of these books is the evil created by one's self and thrusted upon one's self. The power of greed and selfishness take over Dorian and Kurtz to create an ugly evil side to them. Through an examination of these two works we can see how the darkness within, given the correct environment will surface. The circumstances which eventually cause the appearance of the inner darkness in these two novels stems from the lack of civility, the true test, or journey which every life contains, and finally the product of evil which lies in all of us.
When people lack the aspect of civility in their lives they too will lack the restraints and barriers it has on one's inner evil. Civility, in essence, provides the basic structure for good. Through laws, structure, and general order, goodness then, for the most part will be the end product. Therefore a lack of civility would result in a lack of order, morals, and laws, leaving chaos to over power. In Dorian's life, after he has bartered his soul for eternal youth, there is a definite lack of restraint. He has little to no concern for others. He lives a very hedonistic lifestyle, which is without rules and laws; whatever pleases him the most is his course of action.
