research paper topics on the picture of dorian gray

77 The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the picture of dorian gray topic ideas & essay examples, 🥇 most interesting the picture of dorian gray topics to write about, 📌 simple & easy the picture of dorian gray essay titles, ❓ dorian gray essay questions.

• Relationships Between Dorian Gray, Lord Henry, and Basil Hallward The relationships between Dorian Gray, Lord Henry, and Basil Hallward are all different yet interesting to analyze. The Picture of Dorian Gray explores topics of male friendship and feelings.
• Dorian Gray’s and Oscar Wilde’s Connection He completes the portrait of Dorian as he is, and he introduces Gray to Lord Henry, who is a friend of his that he thinks is not morally upright.
• “The Picture of Dorian Gray”: The Question of Love in the Novel It turns out that the only pure love Dorian experiences is love to art, not to a woman. Dorian is deprived of the ability to love a woman.
• Immorality in “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde The issue of immortality as portrayed in the novel ‘The Portrait of Dorian Gray’ is one of the main themes, which the novel unveils throughout its plot.
• Why Picture of Dorian Gray Is in the Canon? In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian is a handsome man and wants to maintain that image. People do respect and value life in the novelThe Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Youth and Beauty in Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray It is in the bounds of the story where the great saying, “the most beautiful flower is the rarest,” is witnessed.
• Oscar Wilde’s “The Portrait of Dorian Gray”: The Problem of Deep-Rooted Evil At the outset, Dorian is the model of perfection of male youth and handsomeness. Dorian is totally taken in by Wotton’s glib flattery along with his fascinating theories, and begins developing a paranoia about youth, […]
• Aesthetics in Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” The story, as a monument to aestheticism, however, is supportive of the idea of individuality and shows not the Victorian disciplining of evil, but the aesthetic punishment of likelihood.
• Characters in Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Wilde uses the character of Dorian as a symbol of his ideas regarding the interaction of art and ethics. In it, assertions are made as to the inability of moral judgments to be made on […]
• LGBT Literature: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” The chosen book is Oscar Wilde’s 1891 classic: The Picture of Dorian Gray; a story carefully fashioned to affirm the tilt youths have toward beauty, and the extent most could go to retain that unique […]
• “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde: Dorian’s Life Philosophy and Double Life Answering the question why Dorian Gray was motivated to adopt his life philosophy and to lead a double life it is possible to look at the facts.
• The Importance of Being Bored: The Dividends of Ennui in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Falling Under the Influence: “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Genesis Allegory and Christian Symbolism in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Obsession, Destruction, and Control: A Film vs. Novel Comparison of “Whiplash” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Oscar Wilde, the Science of Heredity, and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Free Reality and Its Metaphors in “Against Nature” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Murder and Mental Breakdown in “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Homoeroticism and Sexual Oppression in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Culture and Corruption: Paterian Self-Development Versus Gothic Degeneration in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Reader’s Sympathy for Dorian From Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Homosexual Desire and the Effacement of the Self in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Immorality Skills: The Fate of Characters and Ethics in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Wilde
• Dorian’s Progression Towards Morality and Responsibility in Oscar Wilde’s Novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Vampirism and the Bible in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Morality and the Role of the Moral Scale in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
• Aestheticism, Homoeroticism, and Christian Guilt in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Oscar Wilde’s Aesthetic Gothic: Walter Pater, Dark Enlightenment, and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Protestant Gothic: Understanding Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Love, Marriage, and Women in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
• The Conflict Between Aestheticism and Morality in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Artists and Their Muses in Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse”
• Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”: Presentation of Women in the Opening Chapters
• The Impossible Synthesis Between Hellenism and Hebraism in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• “The Picture of Dorian Gray”: Wilde’s Parable of the Fall
• Aestheticism and Social Anxiety in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• A Tragedy of the Artist: “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Power and Influence of Art in Oscar Wilde’s Work “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Link Between Ethics and Aesthetics in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Obsession With Physical Appearance in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
• The Theme of Materialism in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Stoker’s “Dracula”, Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, and O’Brien’s “At Swim-Two-Birds”: In-Depth Critical Analysis
• The Relationship Between Beauty and Morality in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Figurative Language and Literary Devices Used in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Corruption Between the Characters in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Different Gothic Elements in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Understanding the Secretive Life of Characters in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• How Does Oscar Wilde Explore Self-Love in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• Themes, Motifs, and Symbols in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• The Fall From Innocence Dorian in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Hard Science, Soft Psychology, and Amorphous Art in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• How Does the Preface of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Relate to the Story?
• What Is Henry’s Occupation in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• Does “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Allude to “Oedipus Rex”?
• Who Illustrated “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• How Old Is Basil in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• What Do Dorian and Lord Henry Have in Common in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• What Do Trees Symbolize in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• What Era Is “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Set in?
• What Is the Role of Innocence in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• Who Is David Stone in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• How Does Dorian Gray Die in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• What Was the Main Character in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Accused Of?
• What Is “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Tragic Flaw?
• What Type of Story Is “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• Why Is “The Picture of Dorian Gray” So Famous?
• Was the Hero in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” a Narcissist?
• What Sins Are Committed in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• Does Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Challenge the Values of the Aestheticism Movement?
• Who Is the Real Villain in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• Is “The Picture of Dorian Gray” Sexist?
• Is the Hero of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” a Psychopath?
• Why Is “The Picture of Dorian Gray” a Gothic Novel?
• What Is the Moral Lesson of “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
• What Is the Irony in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
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111 The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a classic novel that explores themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of living a life driven by pleasure. If you are tasked with writing an essay on this literary masterpiece, you may be struggling to come up with a topic that will set your paper apart from the rest. To help you out, here are 111 essay topic ideas and examples that will inspire you to create a unique and compelling piece of writing:

• The role of beauty in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The consequences of Dorian Gray's decision to sell his soul for eternal youth.
• The theme of morality in the novel.
• The symbolism of the portrait in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The influence of Lord Henry on Dorian Gray's transformation.
• The representation of women in the novel.
• The significance of Dorian Gray's relationship with Sibyl Vane.
• The impact of society on Dorian Gray's behavior.
• The portrayal of hedonism in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The motif of decay in the novel.
• The role of art in Dorian Gray's life.
• The depiction of masculinity in the novel.
• The theme of appearance versus reality in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The use of irony in the novel.
• The portrayal of friendship in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The theme of narcissism in the novel.
• The symbolism of the yellow book in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The representation of homosexuality in the novel.
• The motif of guilt and redemption in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's actions on the people around him.
• The theme of power and control in the novel.
• The significance of the setting in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The role of music in the novel.
• The representation of religion in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The theme of time in the novel.
• The portrayal of corruption in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The motif of masks and disguises in the novel.
• The impact of the supernatural elements in the novel.
• The symbolism of colors in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The theme of fate in the novel.
• The representation of violence in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The motif of mirrors in the novel.
• The role of women in influencing Dorian Gray's behavior.
• The theme of artifice in the novel.
• The depiction of addiction in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The motif of duality in the novel.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's beauty on his life.
• The theme of immortality in the novel.
• The representation of class in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The symbolism of the painting's transformation in the novel.
• The role of the senses in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The theme of individualism in the novel.
• The portrayal of madness in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The motif of mirrors and reflections in the novel.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's upbringing on his behavior.
• The theme of punishment and redemption in the novel.
• The significance of the characters' names in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The representation of the male gaze in the novel.
• The motif of mirrors and shadows in the novel.
• The role of art in Dorian Gray's transformation.
• The theme of temptation in the novel.
• The symbolism of the opium dens in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The impact of the yellow book on Dorian Gray's behavior.
• The representation of beauty in the novel.
• The theme of corruption and decay in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The role of the senses in Dorian Gray's hedonistic lifestyle.
• The motif of masks and personas in the novel.
• The significance of the portrait's transformation in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The portrayal of violence and sexuality in the novel.
• The theme of obsession in Dorian Gray's life.
• The symbolism of mirrors and reflections in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's lifestyle on his mental health.
• The representation of addiction and excess in the novel.
• The motif of transformation and metamorphosis in the novel.
• The role of society in shaping Dorian Gray's behavior.
• The theme of art and creation in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The significance of the portrait as a symbol of Dorian Gray's soul.
• The portrayal of beauty and ugliness in the novel.
• The symbolism of the yellow book as a corrupting influence.
• The theme of morality and ethics in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's actions on his relationships.
• The representation of the supernatural in the novel.
• The motif of mirrors and reflections as a metaphor for self-reflection.
• The role of music and art in Dorian Gray's life.
• The theme of sin and redemption in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The symbolism of the opium dens as a symbol of decadence.
• The significance of Dorian Gray's descent into madness.
• The portrayal of innocence and corruption in the novel.
• The motif of masks and deception in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's beauty on his self-image.
• The theme of pleasure and pain in the novel.
• The representation of masculinity and femininity in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The symbolism of the portrait's aging process in the novel.
• The role of the senses in Dorian Gray's perception of reality.
• The theme of secrecy and hidden desires in the novel.
• The significance of the painting's role in Dorian Gray's transformation.
• The portrayal of society's expectations in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The motif of mirrors and reflections as a symbol of vanity.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's lifestyle on his mental and physical health.
• The theme of betrayal and loyalty in the novel.
• The symbolism of the portrait as a reflection of Dorian Gray's soul.
• The representation of beauty as a destructive force in the novel.
• The motif of masks and disguises as a way of hiding one's true self.
• The role of art in Dorian Gray's descent into madness.
• The theme of hypocrisy and deceit in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The significance of the portrait as a symbol of Dorian Gray's inner self.
• The portrayal of beauty as a source of power in the novel.
• The symbolism of the portrait as a mirror of Dorian Gray's soul.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's actions on his mental and physical well-being.
• The theme of self-destruction and self-preservation in the novel.
• The representation of the portrait as a reflection of Dorian Gray's true nature.
• The motif of mirrors and reflections as a symbol of vanity and self-absorption.
• The role of art and aesthetics in Dorian Gray's life.
• The theme of hedonism and excess in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• The significance of the portrait as a symbol of Dorian Gray's inner turmoil.
• The portrayal of beauty as a curse in the novel.
• The symbolism of the portrait as a mirror of Dorian Gray's sins.
• The impact of Dorian Gray's lifestyle on his relationships and friendships.
• The representation of beauty as a dangerous and destructive force in the novel.
• The motif of mirrors and reflections as a metaphor for self-deception and self-delusion.

With these essay topic ideas and examples, you are sure to find inspiration for your paper on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Whether you choose to explore themes of beauty, morality, or corruption, there are endless possibilities for analysis and interpretation in Wilde's novel. Good luck with your essay writing!

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Picture of Dorian Gray

Essays on The Picture of Dorian Gray

Prompt examples for "the picture of dorian gray" essays, the nature of beauty and corruption.

Discuss the central theme of beauty and corruption in "The Picture of Dorian Gray." How does Dorian Gray's obsession with physical appearance lead to moral decay? Analyze the symbolism of the portrait and its role in the story.

Morality and Consequences

Explore the moral dilemmas faced by the characters in the novel. How do their choices and actions reflect the consequences of their moral beliefs or lack thereof? Analyze the role of Lord Henry's hedonistic philosophy in influencing Dorian's decisions.

The Portrait as a Reflection of the Soul

Analyze the concept of the portrait as a reflection of Dorian's inner self. How does the portrait's transformation mirror Dorian's moral corruption? Discuss the symbolism of the portrait's deteriorating appearance.

The Influence of Society and Peer Pressure

Discuss the influence of society and peer pressure on Dorian Gray's character development. How do societal norms and the expectations of his peers contribute to his descent into decadence? Analyze the role of conformity and rebellion.

Oscar Wilde's Critique of Victorian Society

Examine how Oscar Wilde critiques Victorian society in "The Picture of Dorian Gray." How does the novel challenge conventional moral values, social hypocrisy, and the repression of desires? Discuss Wilde's use of wit and satire.

The Theme of Art and Aestheticism

Analyze the theme of art and aestheticism in the novel. How does Dorian's pursuit of aesthetic experiences and his rejection of morality reflect the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century? Discuss the tension between art and ethics.

The Duality of Human Nature in Dorian Gray Chapter 11

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The Art of Immorality in The Picture of Dorian Gray

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The Depiction of Double Life in The Picture of Dorian Gray

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

Depiction of the victorian society in the picture of dorian gray, an unrestrained life of lord henry, personality and mind in the picture of dorian gray, the picture of dorian gray as an immoral book, the significance of locations in the picture of dorian gray, a critical theory in the picture of dorian gray, the representation of london in the picture of dorian gray, the picture of dorian gray as an unconscious image of oscar wilde, the prayer of the scarlet: the allegory genesis and the use of christian symbolism in the picture of dorian gray, the role of names in the picture of dorian gray, connected imagery in the picture of dorian gray and dracula, dorian gray's ending: research of whether wilde ends the book in ambiguity, obsession, destruction and control - a film vs. novel comparison of whiplash and the picture of dorian gray, the image of a sin in literature works as a part of human nature, language liberation in the picture of dorian gray and the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde, murder and mental breakdown in "the tell-tale heart" and the picture of dorian gray, the idea of imagination in the works of william wordsworth, mary shelley, oscar wilde, and samuel coleridge, an analysis of oscar wilde’s and sarah water’s demonstration of victims and criminals as shown in the picture of dorian and the little stranger.

1890-1891, Oscar Wilde

Novel; Philosophical fiction

The story begins in the art studio of Basil Hallward, who is discussing a current painting with his witty and amoral friend Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian Gray, the subject of the painting, arrives, and he is fascinated as Henry explains that beauty and youth are fleeting and that he believes one should live life to the fullest by indulging one’s impulses. Dorian declares that he would give his soul if the portrait were to grow old and wrinkled while he remained young and handsome. Basil gives the painting to Dorian, who spends the next 18 years in pursuit of capricious excess and is increasingly drawn to evil.

The Picture of Dorian Gray presents the conflict between good and evil sides of humanity, where individuals are highly influenced and weak against the temptations of youth, love, pleasure and secrecy. This emphasizes the uglier side of a life all about the pursuit of pleasure and beauty.

Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry "Harry" Wotton, Sibyl Vane, James Vane, Alan Campbell, Lord Fermor, Adrian Singleton, Lord Henry's wife

Wilde's only novel, it was subject to much controversy and criticism in its time. Even bowdlerized, The Picture of Dorian Gray offended the moral sensibilities of British book reviewers, to the extent, in some cases, of saying that Wilde merited prosecution for violating the laws guarding public morality. However, the novel became a classic of English literature and was adapted into a number of films, most notably a 1945 version.

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.” “Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.” “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

1. Baker, H. A. (1969). A tragedy of the artist: the picture of Dorian Gray. Nineteenth-Century Fiction, 24(3), 349-355. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2932864) 2. Oates, J. C. (1980). " The Picture of Dorian Gray": Wilde's Parable of the Fall. Critical Inquiry, 7(2), 419-428. (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/448106?journalCode=ci) 3. Carroll, J. (2005). Aestheticism, Homoeroticism, and Christian Guilt in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Philosophy and Literature, 29(2), 286-304. (https://muse.jhu.edu/article/189431) 4. Gillespie, M. P. (1995). The Picture of Dorian Gray:" what the world thinks me". (https://philpapers.org/rec/GILTPO-39) 5. Seagroatt, H. (1998). Hard Science, Soft Psychology, and Amorphous Art in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, 38(4), 741-759. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/451096) 6. Davis, M. (2013). Mind and Matter in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Victorian Literature and Culture, 41(3), 547-560. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/victorian-literature-and-culture/article/abs/mind-and-matter-in-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/A497BA8F7EFA31781860D48A7E322F36) 7. Rashkin, E. (1997). Art as Symptom: A Portrait of Child Abuse in" The Picture of Dorian Gray". Modern Philology, 95(1), 68-80. (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/392452?journalCode=mp) 8. Paglia, C. (1990). The Beautiful Boy As Destroyer: Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray. In Sexual Personae (pp. 512-530). Yale University Press. (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.12987/9780300182132-023/html?lang=de) 9. Simion, M. O. (2015). A new hedonism in Oscar Wilde's novel the picture of Dorian Gray. Annals Constantin Brancusi U. Targu Jiu, Letters & Soc. Sci. Series, 55. (https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/ancnbt2015&div=13&id=&page= ) 10. Keefe, R. (1973). Artist and Model in" The Picture of Dorian Gray". Studies in the Novel, 63-70. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/29531571)

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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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The Picture of Dorian Gray

By oscar wilde, the picture of dorian gray essay questions.

In the preface, Wilde claims that there is "no such thing as a moral or an immoral book," and that an "ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Yet Dorian's eventual ruin suggests a strong moral warning against the protagonist's vanity and selfishness. Is Wilde breaking his own rules and exhibiting "an unpardonable mannerism of style"? Or is the book meant to be read amorally?

Lord Henry and Dorian claim to be artists in the way they live their lives. Is this true, based on Wilde's definition of the artist, as expressed in the preface? Is this true based on your own definition?

Time moves linearly in The Picture of Dorian Gray , but not in even increments. Discuss the passage of time in the novel and how it influences our impression of characters and events. Be sure to touch on the glossing-over of 18 years in chapter 11.

When Basil confronts Dorian about the fact that he has allegedly corrupted many people, Dorian defends himself by saying that "Each of us has Heaven and Hell in him." Is Dorian responsible for the ruined lives of his friends? Is Lord Henry responsible for the ruined life of Dorian?

Dorian is outwardly young and charming, and inwardly old and corrupt. He is decidedly inconsistent in his social interactions and intellectal interests, while extremely consistent in appearance. Discuss the theme of duplicity throughout the novel.

In chapter 11, we encounter a peculiar first-person interjection from the narrator: "Is insincerity such a terrible thing? I think not." Does this voice, or this argument, remind you of any of the characters in the novel? Discuss Wilde's narrative voice in three or four instances. How does it relate to the different characters, does it seem to espouse similar views, or to sympathize with certain people more than others? Are we expected to trust the narrator on every occasion? What does this tell us about how the story is told?

At the time of its publication, The Picture of Dorian Gray sparked countless debates about the role of morality in art. What is your contribution to this debate? Do artists have the responsibility to convey good morals to their audience?

In 1895, the critic Ernest Newman, in a discussion of Wilde's contribution to literary thought, celebrated the author's use of paradoxes, saying that "a paradox is a truth seen round a corner" (Drew xxv). Countless paradoxes appear in The Picture of Dorian Gray , most often in the words of Lord Henry Wotton. Identify and discuss several paradoxes in the novel.

Traditionally, faustian tales contain explicit depictions of the protagonist's pact with the devil, giving a clearly defined source for his later woes. But the closest Wilde comes to identifying the reason for the portrait's metaphyisical powers is in chapter 8, when Dorian wonders if there is somehow "some subtle affinity between the chemical atoms, that shaped themselves into form and colour on the canvas, and the soul that was within." Wilde seems content to leave the actual mechanism by which the portrait ages and withers instead of Dorian completely unexplained. How does this affect our overall impression of the novel? How would the work be different if it included, for instance, a scene in which Mephistofoles appears and has Dorian sign a contract?

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

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Cautionary Tale of the Picture of Dorian Gray: Parable and Autobiography

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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

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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" context & background.

Oscar Wilde wrote his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, at the invitation of the American publisher, J. M. Stoddart, managing editor of the  Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine , who on 30 August 1889 gave a dinner in London at the Langham Hotel for Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle. When Stoddart asked for a piece twice as long as Wilde’s fairy tale ‘The Fisherman and his Soul’, Wilde began working on  The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Stoddart's offer was attractive to a comparatively unknown author such as Wilde, whose literary career was not overwhelmingly successful at that time. J.B. Lippincott & Co. was one of the largest book publishing firms in Philadelphia and Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine a well-established American literary periodical that wished to increase its share of an expanding transatlantic market. Lippincott published their literary magazine from 1868 to 1915, and it included literary reviews, poetry, and short stories. In addition to Wilde, works by authors such as Rudyard Kipling, and Arthur Conan Doyle were published as well.  In the summer of 1890, when the first edition of the novel was published in  Lippincott's Monthly Magazine,  the novel contained 13 chapters, and was criticized as scandalous and immoral (with detractors condemning its homosexual undertones and seeming embrace of hedonistic values.) Disappointed with its reception, Wilde revised the novel in 1891 and published it as a single volume, issued by Ward, Lock & Co (the London publisher which circulated the British edition of  Lippincott's ), adding a preface and six new chapters. This Preface was written as a response to those unkind critics of the first edition. It also succinctly sets forth the tenets of Wilde's philosophy of art. Devoted to a school of thought and mode of sensibility known as aestheticism, Wilde believed that art possesses an intrinsic value - that it is beautiful and therefore has worth, and thus needs serve no other purpose, be it moral or political. This attitude was revolutionary in Victorian England, where popular belief held that art was not only a function of morality but also a means of enforcing it.

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"The Picture of Dorian Gray" Historical Context

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" Context

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The Picture of Dorian Gray summary

Explore the literary classic the picture of dorian gray, a morality fantasy novel by oscar wilde.

The Picture of Dorian Gray , Moral fantasy novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde . It was published in an early form in  Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine  in 1890. The only novel written by Wilde, it had six additional chapters when it was released as a book in 1891. The work is an archetypal tale of a young man who purchases eternal youth at the expense of his soul. The story begins in the art studio of Basil Hallward, who is discussing a current painting with his witty and amoral friend Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian Gray, the subject of the painting, arrives, and he is fascinated as Henry explains that beauty and youth are fleeting and that he believes one should live life to the fullest by indulging one’s impulses. Dorian declares that he would give his soul if the portrait were to grow old and wrinkled while he remained young and handsome. Basil gives the painting to Dorian, who spends the next 18 years in pursuit of capricious excess and is increasingly drawn to evil. He frequently visits the portrait, noting the signs of aging and of corruption that appear, though he himself remains unblemished. Basil tells Dorian that if this is a reflection of him, he must repent and pray for forgiveness. An enraged Dorian murders Basil. After later deciding to become virtuous, Dorian checks if the portrait has improved, but he sees rather that it has acquired a look of cunning. He decides to destroy the artwork and stabs it with a knife. His servants hear a scream, and, when they arrive, they see a loathsome old man dead on the floor with a knife in his chest and a portrait of the beautiful young man he once was. The novel became a classic of English literature and was adapted into a number of films, most notably a 1945 version.

An Excerpt from The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray

Upon receipt of the typescript of The Picture of Dorian Gray , Oscar Wilde’s editor panicked at what he saw. Contained within its pages was material he feared readers would find “offensive”—and he proceeded to go through the typescript with his pencil, cleaning it up until he made it “acceptable to the most fastidious taste.” Wilde did not see these changes until his novel appeared in print. Now over a century later, Nicholas Frankel has given us the true story in The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray .

Author - Editorial Staff

Date - 11 April 2024

Time to read - 10 min

“Oscar Wilde just got a little wilder.”

Wilde famously said that The Picture of Dorian Gray “contains much of me”: Basil Hallward is “what I think I am,” Lord Henry “what the world thinks me,” and “Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.” Wilde’s comment suggests a backward glance to a Greek or Dorian Age, but also a forward-looking view to a more permissive time than his own repressive Victorian era. By implication, Wilde would have preferred we read today the uncensored version of his novel. Here is a brief excerpt.

Tell me more about Dorian Gray. How often do you see him?”

“Everyday. I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him everyday. Of course sometimes it is only for a few minutes. But a few minutes with somebody one worships mean a great deal.”

“But you don’t really worship him?”

“How extraordinary! I thought you would never care for anything but your painting — your art, I should say. Art sounds better, doesn’t it?”

“He is all my art to me now. I sometimes think, Harry, that there are only two eras of any importance in the history of the world. The first is the appearance of a new medium for art, and the second is the appearance of a new personality for art also. What the invention of oil-painting was to the Venetians, the face of Antinous was to late Greek sculpture, and the face of Dorian Gray will some day be to me. It is not merely that I paint from him, draw from him, model from him. Of course I have done all that. He has stood as Paris in dainty armour, and as Adonis with huntsman’s cloak and polished boar-spear. Crowned with heavy lotus-blossoms, he has sat on the prow of Adrian’s barge, looking into the green, turbid Nile. He has leaned over the still pool of some Greek woodland, and seen in the waters’ silent silver the wonder of his own beauty. But he is much more to me than that. I won’t tell you that I am dissatisfied with what I have done of him, or that his beauty is such that art cannot express it. There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life. But in some curious way — I wonder will you understand me? — his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style. I see things differently, I think of them differently. I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before. ‘A dream of form in days of thought,’ — who is it who says that? I forget; — but it is what Dorian Gray has been to me. The merely visible presence of this lad — for he seems to me little more than a lad, though he is really over twenty — his merely visible presence — ah! I wonder can you realise all that that means? Unconsciously he defines for \ me the lines of a fresh school, a school that is to have in itself all the passion of the romantic spirit, all the perfection of the spirit that is Greek. The harmony of soul and body, — how much that is! We in our madness have separated the two, and have invented a realism that is bestial, an ideality that is void. Harry! Harry! If you only knew what Dorian Gray is to me! You remember that landscape of mine, for which Agnew offered me such a huge price, but which I would not part with? It is one of the best things I have ever done. And why is it so? Because, while I was painting it, Dorian Gray sat beside me.”

“Basil, this is quite wonderful! I must see Dorian Gray.”

Hallward got up from the seat, and walked up and down the garden. After some time he came back. “You don’t understand, Harry,” he said. “Dorian Gray is merely to me a motive in art. He is never more present in my work than when no image of him is there. He is simply a suggestion, as I have said, of a new manner. I see him in the curves of certain lines, in the loveliness and the subtleties of certain colours. That is all.”

“Then why won’t you exhibit his portrait?”

“Because I have put into it all the extraordinary romance of which, of course, I have never dared to speak to him. He knows nothing about it. He will never know anything about it. But the world might guess it; and I will not bare my soul to their shallow, prying eyes. My heart shall never be put under their microscope. There is too much of myself in the thing, Harry, too much of myself!”

“Poets are not so scrupulous as you are. They know how useful passion is for publication. Nowadays a broken heart will run to many editions.”

“I hate them for it. An artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them. We live in an age when men treat art as if it were meant to be a form of autobiography. We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. If I live, I will show the world what it is; and for that reason the world shall never see my portrait of Dorian Gray.”

“I think you are wrong, Basil, but I won’t argue with you. It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue. Tell me; is Dorian Gray very fond of you?”

Hallward considered for a few moments. “He likes me,” he answered, after a pause; “I know he likes me. Of course I flatter him dreadfully. I find a strange pleasure in saying things to him that I know I shall be sorry for having said. I give myself away. As a rule he is charming to me, and we walk home together from the club arm in arm, or sit in the studio and talk of a thousand things. Now and then, however, he is horribly thoughtless, and seems to take a real delight in giving me pain. Then I feel, Harry, that I have given away my whole soul to someone who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat, a bit of decoration to charm his vanity, an ornament for a summer’s day.”

“Now and then, however, he is horribly thoughtless, and seems to take a real delight in giving me pain. Then I feel, Harry, that I have given away my whole soul to someone who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat, a bit of decoration to charm his vanity, an ornament for a summer’s day.”

“Days in summer, Basil, are apt to linger. Perhaps you will tire sooner than he will. It is a sad thing to think of, but there is no doubt that Genius lasts longer than Beauty. That accounts for the fact that we all take such pains to overeducate ourselves. In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place. The thoroughly well informed man—that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the thoroughly well informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-à-brac shop, all monsters and dust, and everything priced above its proper value. I think you will tire first, all the same. Some day you will look at him, and he will seem to you to be a little out of drawing, or you won’t like his tone of colour, or something. You will bitterly reproach him in your own heart, and seriously think that he has behaved very badly to you. The next time he calls, you will be perfectly cold and indifferent. It will be a great pity, for it will alter you. The worst of having a romance is that it leaves one so unromantic.”

“Harry, don’t talk like that. As long as I live, the personality of Dorian Gray will dominate me. You can’t feel what I feel. You change too often.”

“Ah, my dear Basil, that is exactly why I can feel it. Those who are faithful know only the pleasures of love; it is the faithless who know love’s tragedies.” And Lord Henry struck a light on a dainty silver case, and began to smoke a cigarette with a self-conscious and self-satisfied air, as if he had summed up life in a phrase. There was a rustle of chirruping sparrows in the ivy, and the blue cloud-shadows chased themselves across the grass like swallows. How pleasant it was in the garden! And how delightful other people’s emotions were! Much more delightful than their ideas, it seemed to him. One’s own soul, and the passions of one’s friends—those were the fascinating things in life. He thought with pleasure of the tedious luncheon that he had missed by staying so long with Basil Hallward. Had he gone to his aunt’s, he would have been sure to meet Lord Goodbody there, and the whole conversation would have been about the housing of the poor, and the necessity for model lodging-houses. It was charming to have escaped all that! As he thought of his aunt, an idea seemed to strike him. He turned to Hallward, and said, “My dear fellow, I have just remembered.”

“Remembered what, Harry?”

“Where I heard the name of Dorian Gray.”

“Where was it?” asked Hallward, with a slight frown.

“Don’t look so angry, Basil. It was at my aunt’s, Lady Agatha’s. She told me she had discovered a wonderful young man, who was going to help her in the East End, and that his name was Dorian Gray. I am bound to state that she never told me he was good-looking. Women have no appreciation of good looks. At least, good women have not. She said that he was very earnest, and had a beautiful nature. I at once pictured to myself a creature with spectacles and lank hair, horridly freckled, and tramping about on huge feet. I wish I had known it was your friend.”

“I am very glad you didn’t, Harry.”

“I don’t want you to meet him.”

“Mr. Dorian Gray is in the studio, Sir,” said the butler, coming into the garden.

“You must introduce me now,” cried Lord Henry, laughing. Basil Hallward turned to the servant, who stood blinking in the sunlight.

“Ask Mr. Gray to wait, Parker: I will be in in a few moments.”

The man bowed, and went up the walk. Then he looked at Lord Henry. “Dorian Gray is my dearest friend,” he said. “He has a simple and a beautiful nature. Your aunt was quite right in what she said of him. Don’t spoil him for me. Don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad. The world is wide, and has many marvellous people in it. Don’t take away from me the one person that makes life absolutely lovely to me and that gives to my art whatever wonder or charm it possesses. Mind, Harry, I trust you.” He spoke very slowly, and the words seemed wrung out of him almost against his will.

“What nonsense you talk!” said Lord Henry, smiling, and, taking Hallward by the arm, he almost led him into the house.

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