The way seemed interminable, and the streets like the black web of some sprawling spider. The monotony became unbearable, and as the mist thickened, he felt afraid.
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 16. The Gothic atmosphere of the novel is very evident in the night description of the gloomy streets of London’s East End as Dorian journeys to the opium den. The sense of unease is emphasized by the use of a vivid simile comparing the streets to the dark web of a "sprawling spider." As the mist thickens, Dorian feels afraid – foreshadowing the danger he will soon face when James Vane sets out to kill him.