The picture of Dorian Grey Flashcards
Summary
The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of a young and handsome man named Dorian Gray, who becomes the subject of a portrait painted by the artist Basil Hallward. Basil is captivated by Dorian’s beauty and believes it is the key to his artistic success. While Basil paints, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a witty and cynical aristocrat who introduces Dorian to a hedonistic worldview, where the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life. Lord Henry suggests that beauty and youth are fleeting, and that Dorian should live his life to the fullest, indulging in every experience without concern for morality.
Dorian, deeply influenced by Lord Henry’s philosophy, expresses a wish that he could remain young and beautiful forever while the portrait ages instead. This wish mysteriously comes true: as Dorian lives a life of excess and sin, his outward appearance remains unchanged, but the portrait becomes increasingly grotesque, reflecting the corruption of his soul.
Dorian embarks on a life of indulgence and vice, influenced by a book given to him by Lord Henry that describes the life of a pleasure-seeker. He destroys the lives of those around him, including a young actress named Sibyl Vane, who falls in love with him. When she performs poorly in a play because she is overwhelmed by her love for Dorian, he cruelly rejects her, leading to her suicide. This is one of the first events that taints the portrait.
Over the years, Dorian becomes increasingly depraved, and the portrait grows uglier, showing the physical effects of his sins. Despite his corruption, Dorian remains outwardly youthful and beautiful. The contrast between his appearance and the portrait becomes a source of deep anxiety and guilt for him.
Basil Hallward, the artist who painted the portrait, confronts Dorian after hearing rumors about his scandalous behavior. Dorian shows Basil the portrait, revealing the grotesque transformation. Horrified, Basil implores Dorian to repent and change his ways. Instead, Dorian, in a fit of rage, murders Basil to keep his secret safe.
Dorian attempts to absolve himself of guilt by blackmailing an old friend, Alan Campbell, into disposing of Basil’s body. Despite his efforts, Dorian cannot escape his inner torment. He becomes increasingly paranoid and obsessed with the portrait.
In the end, Dorian decides to destroy the portrait in an attempt to break free from his corrupted life. He stabs the painting with the same knife he used to kill Basil. However, this act leads to his own death. Servants later find Dorian’s body, now aged and withered, lying on the floor, while the portrait has returned to its original form, showing Dorian as a beautiful young man
Theme; Aesthetics and the Superficiality of Beauty
The novel explores the dangers of placing too much value on physical beauty and aesthetic experiences. Dorian’s obsession with his own beauty, influenced by Lord Henry’s philosophy, leads to his moral decay. Wilde critiques the superficial nature of society, which often values appearance over substance.
Theme; The Consequences of Hedonism
Lord Henry’s hedonistic worldview, which prioritises pleasure over ethics, acts as a corrupting influence on Dorian. The novel suggests that a life of unchecked indulgence leads to self-destruction. Dorian’s pursuit of pleasure results in the loss of his humanity, culminating in his tragic downfall.
Theme; The duality of human nature
The portrait represents the duality within Dorian—his outward appearance remains innocent and unblemished, while the portrait reveals the true state of his soul. This duality highlights the contrast between appearance and reality, and the internal conflict between good and evil that exists within every individual.
Theme; The Corruption of the soul
As Dorian’s sins accumulate, they manifest in the portrait, symbolising the moral consequences of his actions. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of immoral behaviour, emphasising that one cannot escape the consequences of their actions.
Theme; Art and Influence
Wilde examines the power of art and influence, particularly through the characters of Basil and Lord Henry. While Basil’s art captures Dorian’s external beauty, Lord Henry’s ideas shape Dorian’s inner life. The novel questions the responsibility of artists and influencers in shaping the lives of others.
Characters; Dorian Grey
Dorian represents the dangers of vanity and self-indulgence. Initially innocent, he becomes increasingly corrupt under Lord Henry’s influence. His character arc demonstrates the consequences of living a life dedicated to superficial beauty and pleasure, leading to his ultimate downfall.
Characters; Lord Henry Wotton
As a catalyst for Dorian’s transformation, Lord Henry embodies the novel’s critique of hedonism. His witty aphorisms and seductive philosophy charm Dorian, but his influence ultimately leads to Dorian’s moral decay. Lord Henry’s character raises questions about the ethics of influence and the consequences of living a life devoid of moral responsibility.
Characters; Basil Hallward
Basil represents the moral centre of the novel, though his obsession with Dorian’s beauty blinds him to the changes in Dorian’s character. His murder symbolises the death of Dorian’s last connection to his former, more innocent self. Basil’s relationship with Dorian also reflects the dangers of idealising beauty and art.
Symbolism; The portrait
The portrait is the most significant symbol in the novel, representing Dorian’s inner corruption. It serves as a mirror to his soul, revealing the consequences of his hedonistic lifestyle. The fact that Dorian’s outward appearance remains unchanged while the portrait decays highlights the theme of duality and the superficiality of beauty.
Symbolism; The yellow book
The book that Lord Henry gives to Dorian is often interpreted as a symbol of the corrupting influence of art and literature. It guides Dorian on his path to self-destruction, reflecting Wilde’s concerns about the impact of certain ideas on impressionable minds.
Symbolism; Opium Dens
The opium dens Dorian frequents symbolise his desire to escape reality and numb his guilt. These places represent the depths of his moral decline and the lengths to which he goes to avoid confronting the consequences of his actions.
Conclusion
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a rich exploration of themes related to beauty, morality, and the human condition. Wilde’s novel serves as a critique of a society that values appearance over substance and warns of the dangers of a life driven by hedonistic desires. Through the tragic story of Dorian Gray, Wilde illustrates the inevitable consequences of living a life devoid of moral responsibility, where the pursuit of pleasure comes at the cost of one’s soul.
