A handsome young man named Dorian Gray wishes that his portrait, rather than he himself, would bear the marks of time and sin. As he pursues a life of pleasure and indulgence, his hidden portrait records the moral consequences of his choices. The novel is a cornerstone of the aesthetic movement, probing Victorian attitudes toward beauty, morality, and the nature of the self.
Try these questions
- What are the central themes of aestheticism and moral decay in the novel, and how are they expressed through recurring motifs?
- How does Dorian Gray’s character evolve, and what influences shape his decisions throughout the story?
- In what ways does the novel reflect the social and cultural concerns of late‑Victorian England, particularly regarding art, morality, and class?
- How does Oscar Wilde employ narrative techniques such as dialogue, symbolism, and the portrait device to convey the novel’s ideas?
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde