The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde's sole novel, focuses on a young man who wishes to remain forever young and beautiful by having his portrait to bear the burden of his aging and the weight of his sins. Set in late 19th-century Victorian England, the story follows Dorian Gray's descent into hedonism, spurred by his newfound disdain for the natural aging process and any form of restraint. What follows is a tale of narcissism and moral corruption with eerie supernatural twists.
Dorian's story begins as Basil Hallward, an artist infatuated with Dorian's beauty, completes a portrait of the young man. Dorian, eager to reject his own mortality, expresses a fateful wish for his portrait to age instead of his actual person. With this, he embarks on a journey of unchecked pleasure-seeking under the tutelage of the hedonistic Lord Henry. As Dorian indulges in a life of debauchery and sin, his portrait gradually transforms, revealing his progressive moral decay, while his physical appearance remains unchanged.
The gradual transformation of the portrait, hidden away in Dorian's attic, serves as a dark mirror to his soul. With each of Dorian’s selfish acts, including his cruel abandonment of Sibyl Vane, a young actress, and the murder of Basil Hallward, the picture becomes increasingly grotesque. Despite attempts to amend his ways, Dorian finds the influence of his actions irreversible. The novel reaches its climax as Dorian, in a fit of despair, destroys the portrait, sealing his fate. The servants find Dorian aged and withered, with the portrait that captured his youth and vitality restored to its original glory.
Through The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde criticizes the vanity and superficiality encouraged by society. His morally ambiguous protagonist is ultimately destroyed by his own narcissism and hedonism. Despite initial controversy surrounding its themes, the novel has cemented its place as a classic in Gothic literature, exploring the complexities of human nature and the consequences of living a life devoted to self-indulgence.
Themes
Exploration of hedonism
Superficiality vs. depth
Morality and the consequence of sin
Duality of human nature
Corruption of innocence
Art and aesthetics
Influence and manipulation
Aging and mortality
Search for eternal youth and beauty
Impact of society on the individual
Self-destruction
Gothic elements and dark Romanticism
Setting
Set in late 19th-century England, The Picture of Dorian Gray takes place largely in London. The novel's focal point is Dorian Gray's opulent residence where the infamous portrait is kept hidden. Other notable locales are the theater where Sibyl Vane performs, the opium den that Dorian visits, and the countryside where the shooting party takes place.
While the story unfolds primarily in London, the novel also makes references to other areas of England and abroad. For instance, Sibyl Vane's brother James is a sailor who has been to Australia. Additionally, Dorian's descent into hedonism and self-indulgence is influenced by a "poisonous French novel" he receives from Lord Henry, hinting at the story's connection to French literary decadence of that era.
The geographical settings capture the contrasts of Victorian society, from the refined high society of aristocrats like Lord Henry to the impoverished working-class world of the Vane family. The London backdrop serves as a microcosm of the novel's broader exploration of beauty, morality, and the duality of human nature in that historical context.
Characters
Dorian Gray: A handsome, narcissistic young man enthralled by Lord Henry's hedonism. He remains youthful while his portrait ages and records his sins.
Basil Hallward: A moral painter, who is infatuated with Dorian and creates the portrait that captures Dorian's true essence.
Lord Henry "Harry" Wotton: An aristocratic and decadent dandy who espouses a philosophy of self-indulgent hedonism, corrupting Dorian.
Sibyl Vane: A talented actress and Dorian's love interest, whose relationship with him ends tragically.
James Vane: Sibyl's protective brother, who seeks vengeance against Dorian for his sister's suicide.
Alan Campbell: A chemist and one-time friend of Dorian who is blackmailed into destroying Basil's body.
Lord Fermor: Lord Henry's uncle, who informs Henry about Dorian's family.
Adrian Singleton: A young friend of Dorian's, whose life is ruined by association and opium addiction.
Victoria, Lady Henry Wotton: Lord Henry's wife, whom he treats disdainfully.
Critical reception
When The Picture of Dorian Gray first appeared in print in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, critics across Victorian England were overwhelmingly scandalized. By August, according to Nicholas Frankel, editor of a 2011 annotated, uncensored edition of the novel, Oscar Wilde had counted 216 attacks on his novel, from critics who called it "vulgar," "unclean," "discreditable," "poisonous," and worse. Today, Wilde's only published novel is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic horror and one of the greatest works every written about the danger of vanity and the value of art for art's sake. "The Picture of Dorian Gray categorically changed Victorian Britain and the landscape of literature," observed Publishers Weekly. Wilde's courageous, groundbreaking novel continues to resonate with readers for its exploration of beauty, youth, narcissism, influence, morality, and appearance versus reality.
FAQs
What is The Picture of Dorian Gray about?
Oscar Wilde's novel is about a young man named Dorian Gray who sells his soul to remain eternally young and beautiful, while a portrait of him ages instead and reflects his moral corruption as he pursues a life of debauchery.
Who are the main characters?
The main characters are Dorian Gray; Basil Hallward, the artist who paints Dorian's portrait; and Lord Henry Wotton, an aristocrat who influences Dorian to embrace a hedonistic lifestyle.
What is the central conflict of The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The central conflict in the novel is Dorian's struggle between pursuing pleasure and beauty at the expense of his moral integrity. Wilde also explores themes of youth, beauty, sin, influence, and the conflict between art and life.
What is the significance of the portrait in the novel?
The portrait serves as a physical manifestation of Dorian's soul, aging and becoming corrupted as he indulges in immoral behavior, while his own appearance remains unblemished.
How does The Picture of Dorian Grayportray Victorian society?
The book provides a critique of Victorian society's emphasis on outward morality and reputation, while exploring the hypocrisy and decadence lurking beneath the surface.
What are the roles of the characters Sibyl Vane and James Vane?
Sibyl Vane is an actress whom Dorian loves and abandons, leading to her suicide, while her brother James Vane seeks revenge on Dorian for her death, representing the consequences of Dorian's actions.
How does The Picture of Dorian Gray explore the concept of influence?
Lord Henry's influence on Dorian drives him towards a life of hedonism and sin, exploring the power of charismatic individuals to shape others' beliefs and actions.
What is the significance of the preface?
The preface serves as a manifesto for Wilde's philosophy of art for art's sake, defending the role of the artist and the value of beauty in art, separate from moral or ethical considerations.
How does The Picture of Dorian Gray explore the duality of appearance and reality?
In the novel, Dorian's outward appearance remains unchanged while the portrait reflects his true, corrupted nature, highlighting the contrast between external appearances and internal reality.
What is enduring mpact and legacy of The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered a classic of Gothic fiction and a seminal work of the Decadent artistic and literary movement, while exploring themes of morality, youth, beauty, and the human condition that continue to resonate with modern readers.
Quotes
"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit."
"Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes."
"To define is to limit."
"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
"I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them."
"The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."
"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."
"Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them."
"The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame."
Quick facts
The Picture of Dorian Gray was initially published as a novella in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890 and later expanded into a novel, with substantial revisions and additions, published in 1891.
Oscar Wilde faced significant criticism for the novel's moral ambiguity and homoerotic content, prompting the magazine's editor J. M. Stoddart to remove approximately 500 words before approving its publication.
In an effort to defend the novel and clarify his intentions, Wilde wrote a preface for the 1891 edition, which became famous in its own right as a manifesto of art for art's sake and the artist's role in society.
Dorian Gray's character and story bear some parallels to Wilde's own life and persona. Wilde famously said that Basil Hallward is "what I think I am," Lord Henry is "what the world thinks me," and Dorian Gray is "what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps."
In 2011, an "Annotated, Uncensored Edition" of The Picture of Dorian Gray was released. It includes the text originally deleted by the magazine's editor, providing insight into the novel as Wilde had originally intended it.
The character of Lord Henry was reportedly inspired by several of Wilde's contemporaries, blending Wilde's observations and interactions into a single, influential persona within the novel.
The Picture of Dorian Gray incorporates themes from classical literature, including the Faustian tale and allusions to works by Shakespeare, reflecting Wilde's extensive literary knowledge and wit.
About the author
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, an eminent Irish poet, playwright, and author, was born in Dublin on October 16, 1854. Renowned for his wit, flamboyant dress, and glittering conversational skill, he became one of the most celebrated personalities of his day. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford, he was an outstanding classicist and an early advocate of the aesthetic movement, which sought to elevate beauty for its own value. Through his literary and artistic advocacy, Wilde made significant contributions to the cultural life of late Victorian London.
In 1884, Wilde married Constance Lloyd, with whom he had two sons. In additon to his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, published in 1891, he wrote several highly successful plays—notably, Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest—establishing his reputation as a brilliant wit. In 1895, his career and personal life suffered a tumultuous downfall, following a libel suit against the Marquess of Queensberry. This trial exposed Wilde's homosexual affairs, which were a criminal offense in England at the time. Consequently, he was convicted of "gross indecency" and sentenced to two years of hard labor.
After his release from prison, Wilde produced a poignant poem, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol," and his confessional letter, "De Profundis." Yet his final years were lived in exile from London, in obscurity and under financial strain. He died in Paris on November 30, 1900.
In recent years, Wilde's life and work have been reassessed, leading to a broader recognition of his significant impact on not only literature and the arts but also society and awareness of challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2017, Wilde was posthumously pardoned under the Policing and Crime Act 2017, affirming his enduring significance and the injustices he suffered. Commemorated by numerous memorials and scholarly works, the life and artistry of Oscar Wilde continue to captivate audiences worldwide, securing his legacy as one of the most distinguished and influential writers in the history of English literature.
