“The picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde “Beauty is a form of genius -- is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. “
Oscar Wilde “Imagination is a quality given a man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is. “
“I can resist anything but temptation” O.Wilde
“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.” Lord Henry, Chapter 2.
“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions “I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” Dorian, Chapter 9.
“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” Lord Henry, to Basil, Chapter 1.
Character List Dorian Gray - A radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young gentleman.
Character List Lord Henry Wotton - A nobleman who plays a vital role in Dorian Gray’s development.
Character List Basil Hallward - The painter who creates the picture and who becomes obsessed with Dorian after meeting him at a party.
Character List Sibyl Vane - A poor, beautiful, and talented actress with whom Dorian falls in love.
Character List James Vane - Sibyl’s brother, a sailor bound for Australia. James cares deeply for his sister and worries about her relationship with Dorian. Victor - Dorian’s servant. Duchess of Monmouth - A pretty, bored young noblewoman who flirts with Dorian at his country estate.
The plot
Lord Henry Wotton meets Dorian Gray at the house of the artist Basil Hallward who is painting the portrait of the handsome young man
to remain forever young After he sees the picture, Dorian Gray makes a wish: to remain forever young
Dorian falls in love with an actress, Sybil Vane, his first and only love, who eventually commits suicide
The life of Dorian Gray reaches all levels of depravity
His sins leave marks on his portrait: the man remains young but the picture grows older and older day by day
Dorian Gray kills Basil
The man makes a last attempt to change his life , but when he finds out that there are no changes in his portrait, he destroys the picture.
The portrait comes back to its original form
Themes Time will have its way Beauty is only skin deep Self-worship L eads to self-destruction Time will have its way Beauty is only skin deep Earthly pleasures can never completely satisfy a human being
Themes Evil appears in winsome disguises An abused child becomes an abusive adult
Themes Implied homosexuality Dorian Gray is admired by other males in the novel for his “beauty”.
Symbols Portrait: Dorian Gray's portrait symbolizes the state of Dorian's soul.
Symbols Yellow book: Given to Dorian by Lord Henry, this book represents the lord's corrupting influence on the youth.
Symbols Cigarette Lord Henry's "opium-tainted cigarette" represents his corrupt lifestyle
Symbols Coverlet The purple and gold coverlet draped over the portrait symbolizes a pall covering the morally dead Dorian.
Symbols Laburnum - A laburnum is a poisonous tree of the pea family." Certainly Dorian turns out to be "poisonous" to many characters .
Dorian Gray as Faust