THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

Oscar Wilde : The Picture of Dorian Gray The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only novel to be published by Oscar Wilde. The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Dorian is selected for his remarkable physical beauty, and Basil becomes somewhat infatuated with Dorian, believing that his beauty is responsible for a new mode of art. Talking in Basil’s darden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wootton, a friend of Basil’s , and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry’s world view. Espousing a new kind of hedonism, Lord Henry suggests that the only thing worth pursuing in life is beauty, and the fulfillment of the senses. Realising that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, wishing that the portrait Basil has painted of him would age rather than himself. Dorian’s wish is fulfilled, subsequently plunging him into debaucherous acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, each sin being displayed as a new sign of agencing on the portrait. The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered a work of gothic horror on with a strong Faustian theme. It deals with the artistic movement of the decadents, and pederasty, both of which caused some controversy when the book was first published. However, in modern times, the book has been referred to as ‘‘one of the modern classics of Western literature”

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