
The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde
'The Picture of Dorian Gray' Summary
The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by Dorian’s beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil’s, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry’s world view. Espousing a new hedonism, Lord Henry suggests the only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfillment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian (whimsically) expresses a desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than himself. Dorian’s wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts.
The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging. The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered a work of classic gothic fiction with a strong Faustian theme.
Book Details
Authors

Oscar Wilde
Ireland
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, the early 1890s saw him become...
Books by Oscar WildeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books

Sonetos - Poemas Filosoficos by Luis Vaz de Camoes
This collection presents a selection of philosophical sonnets by Luís Vaz de Camões, widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Portuguese la...

Ghosts of Growth by George Parsons Lathrop
The Ghosts of Growth is a collection of poems that explores the themes of nature, growth, and transformation. Lathrop uses vivid imagery and evocative...

Poet Looks At The Moon by Jo Hsu Chang
A Poet Looks at the Moon is a collection of 21 poems by the Chinese poet Jo Hsu Chang, translated into English by E. Powys Mathers. The poems are insp...

The Giant's Robe by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
Imagine finding a robe that grants you the power to become invisible. What would you do with it? In F. Anstey's classic Victorian fantasy novel, The...

Varney, the Vampyre Vol. 1 by Thomas Peckett Prest
This is volume 1 of 3. Originally published as a penny dreadful from 1845 until 1847, when it first appeared in book form, Varney the Vampyre is a fo...

It Is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reade
This is a gripping novel that delves into the themes of redemption and justice. Written by the renowned English author in 1856, this compelling work s...

Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was left unfinished at the time of Dickens' death, and readers have often...

One Life, One Love by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Set against the backdrop of late Victorian England and Paris, "One Life, One Love" follows the tragic unraveling of a seemingly idyllic life. The murd...

Birthday by Christina Rossetti
A Birthday by Christina Rossetti is a poem that explores the themes of time, mortality, and the beauty of nature. The poem is written in a reflective...

The Dark Flower by John Galsworthy
Galsworthy's classic The Dark Flower is a study of love. Spring is the beginning when all is new and full of hope. However, the woman Lennan has falle...
Reviews for The Picture of Dorian Gray
No reviews posted or approved, yet...