Many people influence our lives, shaping the way we act, speak, and even think. People can influence others in many positive ways; however, they can also corrupt the people around them. In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Lord Henry influences Dorian Gray to the point that Dorian loses all the respect, dignity, and integrity he had and ultimately leads him to experience his downfall. In William Shakespeare's Othello, Iago clearly feels no loyalty to even one other character in the play, yet he makes each character feel as if they are his personal confidant and most trusted friend and advisor. Dorian Gray influences the unfortunate youths and leads them to their destruction. Finally, the society has a profound influence on Alan Campbell and Basil and they ultimately meet their downfall due to the influence. Dorian Gray's downfall lies in his willingness to sacrifice himself for Lord Henry's vision. When Lord Henry first meets Dorian Gray, he notices Dorian Gray's beauty. Lord Henry tells Dorian that youth and beauty are the most precious treasures and should be cherished and cherished because they fade quickly. Remembering Lord Henry's words, Dorian first recognizes the extraordinary beauty and youth of the portrait and then is saddened by the thought of losing it. He envies the figure in the painting and wishes: “If only I were the one who always remained young and the painting grew old! For this, for this, I would give everything!” (p.28) Lord Henry's words about youth and beauty influence Dorian to express this desire. His wish was granted and the painting will show his sins and age while Dorian would remain young. As Dorian watches the portrait alter more and more every time it does something unpleasant, he realizes that... in the center of the card... there is Dorian even if he doesn't want to. The company informed Basil of Dorian's reality. By informing Basil, Basil begins to think thoughts that he wouldn't normally think. "When I first heard them, I laughed. I hear them now, and they make me shiver" (p.145). Basil loses his individual thoughts due to the influence of society. Iago, Lord Henry, Dorian Gray, and society provide others with a negative influence that often leads to their own downfall. By adopting another person's ideas you give up your individual responsibility because that person does not act like the individual they represent. If another character communicates with Lord Henry, Lord Henry will preach his own ideas to the character and cause him to lose his individual thoughts. By adopting Lord Henry's thoughts, the character will experience the dangers of the flu.