The Picture of Dorian Gray

 England in 1890, Estonia in 1929  The only published novel by Oscar Wilde  First appeared in a magazine  Added seven chapters  Alternations  Homoerotic overtones  Belief in hedonism

Plot description  The story tells of a man called Dorian Gray  Young nobleman, rich, but pure-hearted  New way of thinking - the only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfilment of the senses  Wishes the portrait grew old, instead of him  Drawn into a new lifestyle  Actions and aging are displayed in his portrait

The Main Characters  Dorian Gray – a young gentleman who begins to indulge himself every kind of pleasure  Basil Hallward - an artist who paints the portrait of Dorian and becomes infatuated with his beauty.  Lord Henry Wotton or “Harry” - is an extremely witty and sharp-tongued nobleman, who conveys his views to Dorian

Other Characters  Sibyl Vane – Dorian’s lover  James Vane – Sibyl’s brother  Alan Campbell – Dorian’s friend  Victoria, Lady Henry Wotton – Lord Henry’s wife  Victor – Dorian’s servant

Key Facts  Protagonist: Dorian Gray  Major conflict: Dorian secretly promises his soul to maintain his youth forever  Rising action: Dorian remarks changes in his portrait after committing his first sin  Dorian is doubt-troubled and paranoid. He kills Basil  He regrets many things he has done. By stabbing his wretched portrait, kills himself

Aestheticism and double life  Classic example of aestheticism and double life  Wilde emphasises his pleasure of living double life  Constantly worried about his image within Victorian society  Enjoys his hedonistic side when being alone  Dorian is both the aesthete and the criminal combined in one man

Quotations  "The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless."  "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."  "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."  "Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious: both are disappointed."  "Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one."  "To be in love is to surpass one's self."  "The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people are colourless. They lack individuality."  "To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable."  "One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner."

Dorian Gray Syndrome  DGS - excessive preoccupation with the person’s own appearance accompanied by difficulties coping with the aging process and with the requirements of maturation  Using cosmetic products or proce- dures dures  Dysmorphophobics

Adaptions