The Picture of Dorian Gray is a Gothic novel by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1890. The story follows Dorian Gray, a handsome and wealthy young man living in London, whose life is shaped by his appearance and the pursuit of pleasure.
The novel begins when Dorian, a strikingly beautiful young man, meets the famous artist Basil Hallward, who becomes infatuated with him and paints a portrait of Dorian. While posing for the portrait, Dorian is introduced to Lord Henry Wotton, an aristocratic and cynical man who espouses a hedonistic philosophy, encouraging Dorian to live a life of indulgence, seeking pleasure above all else, without concern for morality or the consequences of his actions.
Dorian, influenced by Lord Henry’s philosophy, becomes obsessed with youth and beauty. He wishes that he could always remain as young as his portrait, and that the painting would age instead of him. This wish is mysteriously granted, and Dorian embarks on a life of excess, decadence, and indulgence, free from the repercussions that would normally accompany his actions.
As Dorian lives a life of luxury, indulgence, and self-gratification, the portrait begins to reflect the consequences of his actions. The portrait grows more and more distorted, showing the physical manifestation of his moral corruption, while Dorian himself remains outwardly youthful and unchanged. Over the years, Dorian engages in a series of reckless and immoral behaviors, including manipulating others, engaging in multiple affairs, and living a life of selfishness. Despite this, his external appearance never alters, while his portrait grows increasingly monstrous and grotesque, reflecting his inner deterioration.
As Dorian’s behavior becomes increasingly destructive, he finds himself haunted by guilt, regret, and the loss of his humanity. He experiences the tragic consequences of his hedonistic pursuit of pleasure, including the suffering and death of those around him. Despite this, he cannot stop his pursuit of further indulgence and remains entranced by the portrait’s power.
In the end, Dorian, horrified by the monstrous state of his portrait, decides to destroy it in an attempt to rid himself of the consequences of his actions. In doing so, he attempts to escape the burden of his corrupt life. However, when he stabs the portrait, he is fatally wounded, and his body is found to be as aged and disfigured as the portrait had become. The portrait, meanwhile, returns to its original image of youthful beauty, symbolizing that Dorian’s inner corruption has finally claimed him.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical and psychological novel that explores themes of vanity, moral corruption, the consequences of living a life of excess, and the relationship between outward appearances and inner reality. Through Dorian’s tragic story, Wilde critiques the Victorian society’s obsession with beauty, youth, and superficiality, and examines the dangers of pursuing pleasure without regard for ethics or morality. The novel also delves into the idea of the « double life, » where one’s public persona hides a darker, more corrupt inner self, making it a timeless and thought-provoking exploration of human nature.