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The Picture of Dorian Gray

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-9

Chapters 10-16

Chapters 17-20

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Perform a detailed character analysis of Dorian Gray . What thematic message does Wilde develop through both Dorian’s traits and his character arc?

Perform a detailed analysis of Dorian Gray’s portrait. What message does Wilde assert through the visual and thematic presence of the painting?

Use outside sources that give historical context for the homosexual male experience during the time period in which The Picture of Dorian Gray takes place. Then, situate Basil Hallward within this context. Through Basil, what is Wilde communicating about the homosexual male experience of the era?

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The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar wilde.

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The Mortality of Beauty and Youth

The trouble starts when Henry warns Dorian that his extraordinary beauty and youth will fade, and tells him to make the most of it. Dorian’s beauty is such that people are astonished by it and all of his advantages seem to come from it, even if he has got an interesting personality and wealth. With Henry’s words ringing in his ears, Dorian immediately views Basil ’s portrait of him in a new light. Rather than…

Surfaces, Objects and Appearances

Beauty is skin-deep in Dorian ’s circle of friends. He is welcomed and adored because of his beautiful appearance and even when his sins ruin lives, he always has a certain power because of his attractiveness. Dorian is at his peak when he is unaware of his own beauty, but when conscious of it, his life becomes about surface and appearance. His taste for fashion grows; he loves tapestries and jewels, very flat, decorative objects.

Art and the Imitation of Life

The novel opens with a theory of the purpose of art, which Wilde reasons out until he reaches that “all art is quite useless”. Whether or not this is some kind of warning from the narrator, we as readers don’t know, but what follows certainly seems to illustrate his point. It presents art in many forms and the danger of it when it is taken too literally or believed too deeply. It starts with a…

The power of one to affect another is a theme that pervades the novel. At first, Basil is influenced by his model Dorian . On a personal level, he is confused and changed by his romantic feelings, but Dorian’s influence is also more far-reaching, actually seeming to change Basil's ability for painting, and to change the painting itself in an almost supernatural way. Influence here describes an almost chemical change that one can assign to…

Women and Men

Lord Henry ’s philosophies frequently criticize women and marriage, and the era of Dorian Gray ’s London society, and indeed Oscar Wilde’s, becomes vivid to us in his dialogue. He says that women are a “decorative sex”, and that there are always only a few worth talking to. We see his marriage with Lady Victoria Wotton as a very separate affair, both parties leading distinct lives and meeting the other occasionally. When Victoria leaves him…

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The Picture of Dorian Gray

By oscar wilde, the picture of dorian gray themes, art as a mirror.

This theme is exemplified by the titular portrait. Dorian Gray 's image reflects his conscience and his true self, and serves as a mirror of his soul. This fact echoes Wilde's statement (found in the preface) that "It is the spectator...that art really mirrors." However, this theme first appears earlier in the preface, with Wilde's contention that "the nineteenth-century dislike of realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass." Realism is a genre of artistic expression that is said to have shown the 19th century its own reflection. The fear that Dorian expresses when viewing the painting, and the emotions that he seeks to escape through sin, drug addiction, and even murder, might be considered an expression of his rage at laying eyes upon his true self. The idea of reflectivity also recalls a major mythical influence on the novel: the story of Narcissus. Dorian, like Narcissus, falls in love with his own image, and is ultimately destroyed by it.

The Art of Living (or Living through Art)

This theme is expressed most prominently in the character of Lord Henry, and in the "new hedonism" he espouses. Lord Henry openly approaches life as an art form, seeking to sculpt Dorian's personality, and treating even his most casual speeches as dramatic performances. Most notably, he pursues new sensations and impressions of beauty with the amorality of an artist: as Wilde writes in the preface, "No artist has ethical sympathies." This latter characteristic is the one that leaves the deepest impression on Dorian's character. However, although both men fancy themselves artists at living, their flaw lies in their blatant violation of the rule given in the first line of the preface: "To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim." Dorian and Lord Henry both strive to reveal themselves in their "art."

Wilde also explores this theme by blurring the line between life and art. Characters in the novel include actresses who live as though they are constantly on stage, and a painter who values a friendship predominantly because the relationship improves his ability to paint. Dorian himself consciously bases his life and actions on a work of art: a book given to him by Lord Henry.

Vanity as Original Sin

Dorian's physical beauty is his most cherished attribute, and vanity is, as a consequence, his most crippling vice. Once a sense of the preciousness of his own beauty has been instilled in him by Lord Henry, all of Dorian's actions, from his wish for undying youth at the beginning of the novel to his desperate attempt to destroy the portrait at the end, are motivated by vanity. Even his attempts at altruism are driven by a desire to improve the appearance of his soul. Throughout the novel, vanity haunts Dorian, seeming to damn his actions before he even commits them; vanity is his original sin. Dorian's fall from grace, then, is the consequence of his decision to embrace vanity - and indeed, all new and pleasurable feelings - as a virtue, at the behest of Lord Henry, his corrupter. In the preface to the novel, Wilde invites us to ponder the inescapability of vanity in our own relationship to art when he states that "it is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors." If we see ourselves in art, and find art to be beautiful, then it follows that we, like Dorian, are in fact admiring our own beauty.

The Duplicity of One's Public and Private Selves

This theme is prominent in much of Wilde's work. It plays a central role in The Importace of Being Earnest , and is prominent throughout this novel, as well. In addition to the protagonist, many of the novel's characters are greatly concerned with their reputations. Lord Henry and Basil Hallward both counsel Dorian on how to best preserve his good status in the public eye. When crimes are committed, it is not personal absolution that anyone is concerned with, but whether or not the guilty party will be held responsible by the public. In this way, each character in the novel possesses an awareness of a split identity: one that is defined by the public, and one that they define themselves. The figure of Dorian is an allegorical representation of this condition. The portrait is a literal visualization of Dorian's private self, the state of his soul, while Dorian himself looks perpetually young, beautiful, and innocent.

Much of Wilde's social commentary in the novel springs from his manipulation of this theme. People's responses to Dorian constantly highlight the overwhelming superficiality of Victorian London (if not people in general). Because Dorian always looks innocent, most of the people he encounters assume that he is a good, kind person. Dorian literally gets away with murder because people are automatically more willing to believe their eyes than anything else.

The Value of Beauty and Youth

Lord Henry claims to value beauty and youth above all else. It is this belief, when imparted to Dorian, that drives the protagonist to make the wish that ultimately damns him. When Dorian realizes that he will keep his youthful appearance regardless of whatever immoral actions he indulges in, he considers himself free of the moral constraints faced by ordinary men. He values his physical appearance more than the state of his soul, which is openly displayed by the ever-increasing degradation of the portrait. This superficial faith in the ultimate value of youth and beauty is therefore the driving mechanism behind the protagonist's damnation. In this way, The Picture of Dorian Gray may be read as a moralistic tale warning against the dangers of valuing one's appearance too highly, and of neglecting one's conscience.

It is important to bear in mind that the beauty that Dorian incessantly pursues is a beauty defined by a purely artistic sensibility, as opposed to a humanitarian one. When faced with the news of his fiance's suicide, Dorian views the event as satisfyingly melodramatic. His obsession with aesthetic beauty prevents Dorian from attending to the pangs of his own conscience.

Influence and Corruption

Dorian begins the novel as an innocent youth. Under Lord Henry's influence he becomes corrupt, and eventually begins corrupting other youths himself. One of the major philosophical questions raised by this novel is that of where to locate the responsibility for a person's misdeeds. If one engages in a moralistic reading, The Picture of Dorian Gray can be seen as a lesson in taking responsibility for one's actions. Dorian often points to Lord Henry as the source of his corruption. However, when contemplating the plights of others, Dorian lays the blame at their own feet rather than considering the role that he might have played in their downfall.

Homosexuality

This is the theme that Wilde was alluding to when he wrote of the "note of Doom that like a purple thread runs through the cold cloth of Dorian Gray " in a letter to his young lover, Bosie, following his ruinous court appearances. He calls the theme of homosexuality a "note of doom" because sodomy and homosexuality in general were severly punishable offenses in Victorian England, and it was under such charges that Wilde was brought to trial.

In the novel, there are strong homosexual undertones in the relationships between the three central characters (Dorian, Lord Henry, and Basil Hallward), as well as between Dorian and several of the young men whose lives he is said to have "ruined", most notably Alan Campbell . In his revision of the novel for its official release, after it appeared in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine , Wilde removed all of the most blatant references to homosexuality. However, the idea of sexual affection between men proved too integral to the characters and their interactions to be entirely expunged from the novel. This theme has prompted many critics to read the novel as the story of a man's struggle with his socially unacceptable proclivities. Indeed, some feel that Wilde was working out his own conflicted feelings on the subject through the novel.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Picture of Dorian Gray is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why is James worried about his sister's suitor?

James is very jealous, protective of his sister, and suspicious of the situation, since Sibyl doesn't even seem to know her suitor's name.

picture of dorian gray

I think that Basil knows what Henry is capable. He doesn't want Henry's influence to turn Dorian from good to evil.

List all the sensory experiences mentioned in the first two paragraphs.

From the text:

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses , and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac , or the more delicate perfume of the...

Study Guide for The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray study guide contains a biography of Oscar Wilde, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Picture of Dorian Gray
• The Picture of Dorian Gray Summary
• The Picture of Dorian Gray Video
• Character List

Essays for The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

• Morality and Immorality (The Picture of Dorian Gray and A Streetcar Named Desire)
• The Life of Secrecy
• Break On Through To the Other Side
• The Art of Immorality: Character Fate and Morality in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
• The Unconscious Image of the Conscious Mind

Lesson Plan for The Picture of Dorian Gray

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Picture of Dorian Gray
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Picture of Dorian Gray Bibliography

E-Text of The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray e-text contains the full text of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

• Chapters 1-4
• Chapters 5-8
• Chapters 9-12
• Chapters 13-16

Wikipedia Entries for The Picture of Dorian Gray

• Introduction

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

An essay on Oscar Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” can provide a literary analysis of the book’s themes, characters, and social commentary. It can explore topics such as aestheticism, moral corruption, and the consequences of a hedonistic lifestyle, shedding light on Wilde’s wit and critique of Victorian society. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of The Picture of Dorian Gray you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Novel Analysis: the Picture of Dorian Gray

The main idea of “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” is to show us the superiority of the inner self of us over the outer one. It is dangerous to judge people only by their face, without consideration of inner world. Whatever amazing beauty of the face is, it can never replace the beauty of the soul. It warns that the ugliness of thought and heart kills the flesh, makes the charm of forms lifeless. Even eternal youth will not bring […]

The Picture of Dorian Gray: the Seven Deadly Sins, and Exploring the Duplicity

In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, there is a tension between the internal lives of the characters and the facades they project to the outer world. “The idea of a double life – of outwardly playing a respectable role while inwardly pursuing an existence that crossed the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.” (The Picture of Dorian Gray: art, ethics and the artist: Greg Buzwell) This is a Victorian novel and therefore the Christian motifs of sin […]

Dorian Gray and his Inner Narcissism

In Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture Of Dorian Grey”, Oscar Wilde conveys and analyzes the effects of selfishness and deception among Victorian society in Great Britain. The Picture of Dorian Grey carefully examines the mentality of an inner narcissist and those around him. Dorian Grey can be compared to the fictional mythological character Narcissus and his narcissism within the book grows mostly due to the influence of Lord Henry. Within chapter 1, Henry’s narcissism can begin to be seen developing and […]

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Hedonism and Moral in the Picture of Dorian Gray

A thought-provoking tale of hedonism and morals sums up A Picture of Dorian Gray, it’s a production so engrossing that time flies quicker than usual. Director Michael Michetti brought Oscar Wilde’s famous novel to life in a fresh and daring way. Set during the late 19th century, the play tells the story of a young man whose portrait decays while he stays young and beautiful. The painter named Basil Hallward is a virtuous man who always sees the good in […]

Victorian Gender Roles in the Picture of Dorian Gray

Introduction Oscar Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, tells the story of the young and beautiful Dorian Gray, who is unmarked by age and excess. Meanwhile, his portrait, which Dorian hides from view, registers every detail of his debauched life.  In 1890, Wilde had already shocked his readers when The Picture of Dorian Gray was published as a short story due to the hedonistic lifestyle of Dorian Gray and the homosexual undertone of the text (Mason 75-7). In […]

Dorian Gray’s True Picture of Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is a widely known author, playwright, and poet infamous for his imprisonment for homosexuality that he portrayed in his only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. This novel takes place during the late 19th century situated in London, England during the Decadent artistic movement, which was a time homoeroticism was practically demonized. The three main characters, Basil, Dorian, and Lord Henry, experience an enthralling wave of emotions as Dorian Gray’s overriding wish of youthfulness eventually overrides his life. […]

The Picture of Dorian Gray Conflict

The Picture of Dorian Gray, the lone novel composed by Oscar Wilde, is viewed as quite possibly the most notable books in world writing. From the earliest starting point, Wild's work has produced numerous squabbles and conversations concerning the shamelessness and offensiveness of the occasions and characters which happen in the novel. Be that as it may, numerous scholastics think about this novel as a magnum opus because of the featured ideas and issues. Oscar Wilde is known as a […]

The Meaning of Oscar Wilde’s the Picture of Dorian Gray

Introduction The Irish writer, Oscar Wilde opens The Picture of Dorian Gray with a statement in the preface that art is free of moral responsibilities. Immediately, this statement and the sexuality in the story sparked controversy among the Victorian readers that were known for their strict moral codes. Enhanced by Oscar Wilde’s personal scandal after being convicted of the same gender “gross indecency” and sentenced to two years of hard labor both the story and the writer received international fame. […]

Echoes of Beauty: the Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

In the vast tapestry of literary wonders, there exists a singular masterpiece that continues to captivate and intrigue readers with its timeless themes and haunting narrative - Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Within the pages of this enigmatic tale lies a labyrinth of moral quandaries, a mirror reflecting the depths of human nature, and a cautionary tale that reverberates through the corridors of time. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century London, Wilde weaves a tapestry of intrigue […]

Mirrors of the Soul: Art and Aesthetics in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" offers a captivating expedition into the realms of art, aesthetics, and their profound implications on the human psyche. Through the narrative lens of Dorian Gray's existence and the eerie portrayal mirroring his ethical degradation, Wilde delves into the transformative influence of the pursuit of beauty, youth, and hedonistic gratification on one's conduct and interpersonal connections. This narrative intricately intertwines the tapestry of artistry and aesthetics with the labyrinthine corridors of moral and ethical […]

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The Picture of Dorian Gray Themes

Home » Literature Explained – Literary Synopses and Book Summaries » The Picture of Dorian Gray » The Picture of Dorian Gray Themes

Main Theme of The Picture of Dorian Gray – Introduction

The Picture of Dorian Gray is set in the late 19th century in London, England. The city provides an appropriate backdrop for a tale about beauty, hedonism, and pleasure-seeking lifestyles. At various points in the novel, the seedy nature of large cities is highlighted as Dorian, a wealthy young man, visits some of the more ragged theaters of town and eventually begins to spend time in opium dens. This emphasizes the uglier side of a life all about the pursuit of pleasure and beauty.

In terms of motifs, the novel’s most obvious one is the titular picture of Dorian Gray. When the artist Basil Hallward becomes enthralled with Dorian’s beauty and winds up painting the portrait that becomes his masterpiece, the realization hits Dorian that he will one day lose his attractiveness as he ages. Dorian allows the portrait to carry that burden for him as he ignores his conscious in pursuit of a life of pleasure and sin. However, the portrait serves as an external source of a conscious for Dorian and it torments him so that he hides it away from any other potential wandering eyes.

Another motif comes in a classic form as the color white. In the beginning of the novel, Dorian starts out as an impressionable and innocent young man. Throughout the story, the color white pops up again and again to remind the audience that Dorian has forsaken his innocence. Finally, a motif of homoerotic male relationships also surfaces throughout the tale. Basil adores Dorian’s beauty and becomes mildly obsessed with Dorian as his subject for a while. Lord Henry wishes to seduce Dorian to live a hedonistic life so that he can watch what results. Dorian threatens to blackmail Campbell and it is implied that perhaps he has some potential homosexual information about him.

Dorian Gray Themes

Here’s a list of major themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray .

• The Purpose of Art.
• Youth and Beauty.
• The Superficiality of Society.
• The Dangers of Social Influence.

Theme of The Purpose of Art

The book explores the purpose of experiencing art in the process of trying to live a life of pleasure. In this case, a painting ends up bearing the uglier consequences of a life of pleasure in a way that forces the owner to acknowledge the burden of his sins. This is seen in Basil’s experiences as well as that he feels he cannot show the portrait at a gallery because he became too invested in the portrait’s subject. Despite his discomfort about this, the portrait is widely considered to be his life’s masterpiece.

Additionally, Sibyl releases her inhibitions and commits to a life of love when she gets engaged to Dorian. She then loses her ability to act. This all raises the question as to whether or not art really can just be art for the sake of enhancing the beauty of life. Is this the case, or does art automatically lend itself to something more? The novel as a whole carries an intense moral message itself.

Theme of Youth and Beauty

Lord Henry recognizes that there is something special in this and immediately decides to influence the young and impressionable Dorian because he knows that Dorian will be able to win over anybody that he wants to. Time and time again throughout the novel, beauty is treated as something that can revitalize and inspire so it is no wonder that Dorian becomes terrified of the fact that he will lose this power when he begins to age. Essentially, what Dorian gives up in order to maintain his influence over others is his soul.

The Superficiality of Society

Overall, Dorian finds it to be easier to abandon his morals to act out of his own selfish will because nobody in his sphere of social influence holds him accountable except for Basil, who tries but ultimately dies as a result of confronting Dorian. In fact, when Dorian tells Lord Henry that he killed Basil, Lord Henry just laughs it off saying that Dorian is not nearly brutal or aggressive enough to have committed a murder.

The Dangers of Social Influence

The Perils and Consequences of Social Influence – The social company that Dorian begins to keep includes people who share his personal philosophy that life has no meaning if it is not pleasurable and beautiful. In addition to these people, it is implied that Dorian also keeps company with impressionable young men and influences them in much the same way Lord Henry did when Dorian was younger.

It is no surprise that Dorian fell into this way of life when society was telling him over and over how lovely he looked but that he would one day lose it. When Dorian finds a way to keep himself from aging, he becomes devoid of any conscious or moral compass, but his face keeps him in the good favor of society because he appears innocent and pure in his features.

Youth and Beauty in Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay

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Beauty is accepting and embracing someone unique interior and exterior characteristics. For some people, beauty makes them feel special among their peers. In this case, it is an excellent surprise that Dorian looks are more than he could ever imagine or wish for, and they make him look somehow unique. This feeling brings forth self-selection, which is part of human nature, the same as the feeling of wanting to belong, of being all-knowing about everything, and being willing to fit in amongst friends (Cenk 169). Evident by the people with unique looks, they find it challenging to engage freely in ordinary human life. This feeling leads to exclusion from all forms of socialization and social ethics, for they are led by an aspect of doing either good or immorality in most cases.

In the novel, the theme of salad days is the epicenter of all scenes as witnessed, cutting through all characters, main and minor. Through the beauty of Dorian, the character of Henry is displayed as a give and take or leave it type. He gives out a self-destruction statement to Dorian Gray without offering much guidance and letting him choose his path despite being aware of the route he might take. This statement is evident when he says that he just briefed Dorian about his beauty, and it is upon him to decide what to do with it. Peer pressure takes a path leading him to self-destruction without much ado. However, feeling unique and rare, he would walk head high, seeking a way to fulfill his desire. It is in the bounds of the story where the great saying, “the most beautiful flower is the rarest,” is witnessed. And in this case, the rarest thing takes the wrong turn, for nobody expects it to run off its kindness.

In the novel, the looks of the young Dorian Gray seem to be both strengths and weaknesses of his mentor in art, Basil Hallward. Basil likes the beauty of Dorian’s face, even painting it in a portrait. (Bowser 70) He admires Dorian to the extent of confessing that he cannot work or let a day pass without seeing the beautiful face, or the day will not be a day anymore. It is here when Lord Henry notices Basil’s idol in Dorian’s outstanding beauty and wishes for more of it even if he did it as a secret admirer by not having to play all his cards at a look. Every man has a weak point in his most robust joint, and this is Basil’s weakness. His acceptance is met when he seems to be derailing Lord Henry from getting to close terms with the beautiful prince. But finally, there they are, and Henry tells the young man how handsome he is to pull strings, unleashing the subject of aesthetic beauty and self-destruction. Being moved by his words, Dorian looks at the imposter picture of his looks on Basil’s art, and his face is so pleased to see the most attractive person in his life.

Suddenly, the face of Dorian becomes grey, and his heart is filled with the aggression of regrets that make him feel inadequate to the point of even crying. Despite being happy with his beauty, he was gloomy, for it was just but a passing cloud. Thus, youth and beauty are just like beauty and the beast. They are nothing much but illusion clout clinging to a passing cloud. Lord Henry, therefore slowly tosses his poison into the mind of Dorian, making him hardly find peace and be ruled by youths indulging in sinful thoughts. He has to enjoy his moment before torments commence at an old age, when his face’s slackening, bony jaws, and growing ugly will be the theme in those days (Fry 180). Led by Lord Henry’s advice, the young man lets go of his conscience, and beauty becomes his walking stick.

Over a series of scenarios, youth, beauty, and death are intertwined throughout the novel when the young vulnerable Dorian falls deep in love with one beautiful Sybil on sight (Leonard 123). Sybil is an actress at one of the shows when Dorian sets eyes on her and falls in love with her. After witnessing her martyrdom death while performing her art, and later she miraculously resurrects backstage, Dorian sees her as an immortal. Living forever young and maintaining his cute face has always been his wish. Nevertheless, the worst and most tragic thing was when Sybil took her life days after staging the presentation. Most people think differently about it, but Dorian, obsessed with beauty, thinks that it is the best thing that has ever happened to Sybil. He thinks it is absurd that she is dead, but also, it is one of the best things to ever happen to her. Sybil will forever maintain her beauty in this life and the next.

Sooner after the Sybil incident, Dorian escapes the verge of aging up through the supernatural transformation of the beautiful portrait by Basil. The portrait seems to take his wish that it ages up and he is younger daily. This time his appearance is beyond mortality and filled with happiness without measure. The new hobby of the boy destroyed friendships and got in between lovers (Fry196). After a long time of guilty doings, he starts admiring being ugly and preserving his innocence, something he lost long ago when he took his beauty for a walking stick.

Youth is just but a rose flower in its blossom stage of age. Similar incidences in the modern world are seen when the hottest chicks around make sure that people notice their presence the same as the cute men in the beauty rhyme mix. They all seem to know everything when they jiggle around like walking trophies. Creating a room of temptation for their peers is what they all do as they pile up in a mad competition of who will get the desire they acquire. Nevertheless, the questions of who will be the queen of the famous game of body counts and breaking up love birds’ hearts without mercy start to flow. Killing ever-existing friendships is their drill as they walk themselves down the aisle of Dorian Gray while living a lie, a life Alice in Wonderland, and the tales of Monalisa while painting the picture in tint. They all get wasted with words of regret guiding them down the mysterious hall of fame—the eternal tame of tortured souls with no one to blame.

Most people view beauty as the appealing part of an individual face or even body shape. One can be ugly in the looks of men, yet so beautiful. The beauty that comes from the inside guides us to the light and gives us what we desire. Henry says that the very phrase is meant to build or destroy Dorian Gray in the novel. The expression is clear, so is his path bare to give him less danger to face, for he will always be aware and wear his protective gear. The saying overrules him that he will never get another chance in his life to enjoy his youth and so are the most beautiful people.

Bowser, Rachel A. “Suggesting a Surface: The Picture of Dorian Gray and Suspicious Reading.” Studies in the Novel , vol. 54, no. 1, 2022, pp. 65–79, 10.1353/sdn.2022.0003.

Fry, Katie. “Extrahuman Transcendence in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Fictional Worlds and Philosophical Reflection . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2022. 175-197.

Cenk, T. A. N. “A Hegelian Dialectic Reading of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 12.23: 169-187.

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IvyPanda. (2023, April 5). Youth and Beauty in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-and-beauty-in-wildes-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/

"Youth and Beauty in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray." IvyPanda , 5 Apr. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/youth-and-beauty-in-wildes-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Youth and Beauty in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray'. 5 April.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Youth and Beauty in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray." April 5, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-and-beauty-in-wildes-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/.

1. IvyPanda . "Youth and Beauty in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray." April 5, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-and-beauty-in-wildes-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Youth and Beauty in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray." April 5, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-and-beauty-in-wildes-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Picture of Dorian Gray — Elements of a Traditional Gothic Novel in The Picture of Dorian Gray

A Look at The Gothic Components in The Picture of Dorian Gray

• Categories: The Picture of Dorian Gray

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Words: 980 |

Published: Jun 29, 2018

Words: 980 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

• Robbins, R., Wolfreys, J., & Womack, K. (2000). ‘Withered, Wrinkled, and Loathsome of Visage’: Reading the Ethics of the Soul and the Late-Victorian Gothic in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Victorian Gothic: Literary and Cultural Manifestations in the Nineteenth Century, 168-181. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230598737_9)
• Poteet, L. J. (1971). " Dorian Gray" and the Gothic Novel. Modern Fiction Studies, 17(2), 239-248. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26279102)
• Scheible, E. (2014). Imperialism, Aesthetics, and Gothic Confrontation in The Picture of Dorian Gray. New Hibernia Review, 18(4), 131-150. (https://www.pdcnet.org/nhr/content/nhr_2014_0018_0004_0131_0150)
• Ethridge, K. L. (2014). The Queer Gothic Hero's Journey in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. (https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/48/)
• Stegner, P. (2007). Oscar Wilde's Gothic: The Presence of Edgar Allan Poe in The Picture of Dorian Gray (Doctoral dissertation, University of Idaho). (https://www.worldcat.org/title/oscar-wildes-gothic-the-presence-of-edgar-allan-poe-in-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/oclc/262480261)

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22 thought-provoking essay topics on dorian gray.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a popular option for teachers in literature classes. After reading this classic piece by Oscar Wilde, the next step is to write a thought-provoking paper. Since Oscar Wilde continues to be an oft-quoted inspiration for many, it is only fitting the essay topic be just as inspirational. Here are 22 topic ideas:

• How does Lord Henry influence Dorian?
• Describe the relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian.
• Discuss whether or not the novel is artistic.
• Evaluate the relationship between Dorian and Basil.
• Is it a gothic novel? Explain.
• What is Sibyl Vane’s role.
• Is it a Faustian story? Explain.
• What is the purpose of Dorian destroying the painting?
• Show the similarities and differences between Lord Henry and Basil.
• How do the different male characters define masculinity?
• Share your thoughts on the idea of beauty in the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Discuss the significance of the title.
• Offer a psychoanalysis of Dorian Gray or another character from The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Does Dorian Gray have a mental illness?
• How do the names fit the characters?
• Choose a quote from the book and share the significance of it in the story.
• Select a theme of The Picture of Dorian Gray and show the aspects of the novel that led you to that conclusion.
• Discuss the changes that Dorian Gray experiences and how they affect the outcome of the novel.
• What elements from mythology are present in the book?
• Select a review of the novel and discuss whether you agree or disagree with it. Explain your thoughts.
• The Picture of Dorian Gray has been labeled as a cautionary tale. What does it warn the reader about?
• Watch a film version. Then discuss the quality of the adaptation.

Essay ideas can also involve comparing and contrasting the novel with another of Oscar Wilde’s works. Since Wilde was more of an essayist and short story writer, there are many small pieces that would appropriate to discuss in a literature paper. Many students also enjoy looking at Wilde’s personal life and lifestyle to compare it to that of Dorian Gray.

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Mind the GAP Study Guide: English HL Literature - The Picture of Dorian Gray

This Mind the Gap study guide helps gr 12 learners to prepare for the end-of-year Grade 12 English Home Language (EHL) Literature exam.

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