The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde (1890)
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Main Themes
Best For
High school and college students studying classic fiction, book clubs, and readers interested in personal growth
Complete Guide: 20 chapter summaries • Character analysis • Key quotes • Discussion questions • Modern applications • 100% free
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Review themes and key characters to know what to watch for
Follow along chapter-by-chapter with summaries and analysis
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Book Overview
Oscar Wilde's only novel tells the story of Dorian Gray, a stunningly beautiful young man whose careless wish for eternal youth comes horrifyingly true. When painter Basil Hallward captures Dorian's extraordinary beauty in a portrait, the young man makes a Faustian bargain: he will remain forever young and beautiful, while the portrait ages and decays in his place, bearing the physical marks of every sin, cruelty, and moral compromise he commits. What begins as a fantasy becomes a nightmare as Dorian, seduced by the hedonistic philosophy of the charismatic Lord Henry Wotton, descends into a life of pleasure-seeking and corruption. He destroys lives, indulges every whim, and commits increasingly dark acts—yet his flawless face remains unchanged, allowing him to move through Victorian society as an admired figure while his portrait, locked away in his attic, becomes a grotesque record of his spiritual degradation. The novel masterfully explores how the relentless pursuit of beauty and pleasure without conscience leads to spiritual death, the toxic power of influence and mentorship, and the terrifying consequences of divorcing one's public image from one's true self. Wilde's Gothic masterpiece is both a thrilling psychological horror story and a profound meditation on vanity, art, morality, and the Victorian obsession with appearance over substance. Through Dorian's tragic descent, Wilde examines what happens when we prioritize surface beauty over inner character, when we let ourselves be shaped by toxic philosophies, and when we believe we can escape the consequences of our actions. The novel's shocking ending reminds us that the truth always surfaces, no matter how carefully we hide it, and that living without conscience inevitably destroys the soul. Published in 1890, the book scandalized Victorian society and remains startlingly relevant today in our image-obsessed culture.
Why Read The Picture of Dorian Gray Today?
Classic literature like The Picture of Dorian Gray offers more than historical insight—it provides roadmaps for navigating modern challenges. Through our Intelligence Amplifier™ analysis, each chapter reveals practical wisdom applicable to contemporary life, from career decisions to personal relationships.
Skills You'll Develop Reading This Book
Beyond literary analysis, The Picture of Dorian Gray helps readers develop critical real-world skills:
Critical Thinking
Analyze complex characters, motivations, and moral dilemmas that mirror real-life decisions.
Emotional Intelligence
Understand human behavior, relationships, and the consequences of choices through character studies.
Cultural Literacy
Gain historical context and understand timeless themes that shaped and continue to influence society.
Communication Skills
Articulate complex ideas and engage in meaningful discussions about themes, ethics, and human nature.
Major Themes
Key Characters
Dorian Gray
The beautiful innocent
Featured in 20 chapters
Basil Hallward
The devoted artist
Featured in 9 chapters
Lord Henry Wotton
The charming manipulator
Featured in 9 chapters
Sibyl Vane
Object of Dorian's obsession
Featured in 2 chapters
The servants
Witnesses to truth
Featured in 2 chapters
Alan Campbell
Reluctant accomplice
Featured in 2 chapters
Lord Kelso
Host
Featured in 1 chapter
The Dinner Guests
Greek chorus/Society observers
Featured in 1 chapter
The young Parisian
Literary role model
Featured in 1 chapter
Adrian Singleton
Victim of Dorian's influence
Featured in 1 chapter
Key Quotes
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
"I can resist everything except temptation."
"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
"Youth! There is nothing like it. It's absurd to talk of the ignorance of youth. The only people to whose opinions I listen now with any respect are people much younger than myself."
"How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young."
"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that - for that - I would give everything!"
"How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young."
"If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!"
"I have been right, Basil, haven't I, to take my love out of poetry and to find my wife in Shakespeare's plays?"
"She is all the great heroines of the world in one. She is more than an individual."
Discussion Questions
1. What are the three different ways Basil, Henry, and Dorian each view the portrait being painted?
From Chapter 1 →2. Why does Basil warn Henry not to influence Dorian, and what does this tell us about Henry's character?
From Chapter 1 →3. Why does Basil refuse to exhibit his portrait of Dorian Gray, even though it's his best work?
From Chapter 2 →4. What does Basil fear will happen if he introduces Dorian to Lord Henry, and why does this worry reveal something about Basil's own feelings?
From Chapter 2 →5. What specific words and ideas does Lord Henry use to change how Dorian sees himself and his life?
From Chapter 3 →6. Why is Dorian so receptive to Lord Henry's philosophy, and what makes this conversation so powerful?
From Chapter 3 →7. What specific moment triggers Dorian's desperate wish about the portrait, and what does he actually ask for?
From Chapter 4 →8. How has Lord Henry's influence already changed the way Dorian sees himself and his future?
From Chapter 4 →9. What specific wish does Dorian make when he sees his completed portrait, and what does this reveal about his priorities?
From Chapter 5 →10. How does Lord Henry's influence contribute to Dorian's desperate reaction to seeing his own beauty captured in the painting?
From Chapter 5 →11. How does Dorian describe Sibyl Vane when he talks to his friends? What does he focus on most?
From Chapter 6 →12. Why do you think Dorian fell in love with Sibyl's performances rather than getting to know her as a person? What does this reveal about his character development?
From Chapter 6 →13. What changes in Dorian during this dinner party, and what specific things does Lord Henry say that cause this shift?
From Chapter 7 →14. Why is Dorian particularly vulnerable to Lord Henry's influence at this moment in his life?
From Chapter 7 →15. How does Dorian's reaction to Sibyl's death change from the night before to the morning after, and what causes this shift?
From Chapter 8 →For Educators
Looking for teaching resources? Each chapter includes tiered discussion questions, critical thinking exercises, and modern relevance connections.
View Educator Resources →All Chapters
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Picture this: a sun-drenched London studio filled with the scent of roses and lilac. This is where we meet artist Basil Hallward, standing before his ...
Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Lord Henry Wotton arrives at artist Basil Hallward's studio and immediately becomes fascinated by a portrait of an extraordinarily beautiful young man...
Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Dorian Gray meets Lord Henry Wotton in Basil's garden, and this encounter changes everything. While Basil paints his portrait, Lord Henry weaves a sed...
Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Dorian returns home from his first meeting with Lord Henry, his mind spinning with new ideas about youth, beauty, and pleasure. He discovers that Basi...
Chapter 5: Chapter 5
Dorian Gray sits for his portrait with painter Basil Hallward, and something extraordinary happens - he makes a wish that will change everything. As B...
Chapter 6: Chapter 6
Dorian becomes completely obsessed with the actress Sibyl Vane after watching her perform Shakespeare night after night. He's fallen head-over-heels i...
Chapter 7: Chapter 7
Dorian attends a dinner party thrown by his uncle, Lord Kelso, where he becomes the center of attention among London's social elite. The guests are fa...
Chapter 8: Chapter 8
Dorian wakes up the morning after Sibyl's suicide feeling surprisingly detached from the tragedy. He examines his portrait and notices it has changed ...
Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Dorian Gray returns to London after James Vane's death, but he can't shake his paranoia and guilt. He becomes convinced that every stranger on the str...
Chapter 10: Chapter 10
Dorian becomes obsessed with a mysterious yellow book that Lord Henry gives him, devouring it completely. The book tells the story of a young Parisian...
Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Dorian becomes obsessed with collecting beautiful objects from around the world - rare tapestries, precious stones, exotic perfumes, and ancient music...
Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Dorian finally confronts the horrifying reality of his portrait after eighteen years of debauchery. The painting now shows a face so twisted by evil t...
Chapter 13: Chapter 13
Dorian wakes up the morning after murdering Basil Hallward, feeling surprisingly calm and detached from his horrific act. He methodically destroys evi...
Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Dorian Gray stands before his portrait in horror, watching as another sin has been etched into the painted face - the murder of Basil Hallward is now ...
Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Dorian arrives at an opium den in the East End, desperately seeking escape from his guilt and the horror of what he's become. The squalid environment ...
Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Dorian's world begins to crumble as his past finally catches up with him. The brother of Sibyl Vane - the actress whose suicide Dorian caused years ag...
Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Dorian Gray sits alone in his country estate, consumed by paranoia and guilt. The weight of his crimes has finally caught up with him - he can no long...
Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Dorian confronts the full horror of what he's become when he decides to destroy the portrait that has recorded every sin while keeping him young and b...
Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Dorian sits alone in his library, tormented by thoughts of his past crimes and the portrait hidden upstairs. He reflects on how his pursuit of beauty ...
Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Dorian Gray finally confronts the horror he has become. Standing before his portrait - now a grotesque reflection of his corrupted soul while his phys...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Picture of Dorian Gray about?
Oscar Wilde's only novel tells the story of Dorian Gray, a stunningly beautiful young man whose careless wish for eternal youth comes horrifyingly true. When painter Basil Hallward captures Dorian's extraordinary beauty in a portrait, the young man makes a Faustian bargain: he will remain forever young and beautiful, while the portrait ages and decays in his place, bearing the physical marks of every sin, cruelty, and moral compromise he commits. What begins as a fantasy becomes a nightmare as Dorian, seduced by the hedonistic philosophy of the charismatic Lord Henry Wotton, descends into a life of pleasure-seeking and corruption. He destroys lives, indulges every whim, and commits increasingly dark acts—yet his flawless face remains unchanged, allowing him to move through Victorian society as an admired figure while his portrait, locked away in his attic, becomes a grotesque record of his spiritual degradation. The novel masterfully explores how the relentless pursuit of beauty and pleasure without conscience leads to spiritual death, the toxic power of influence and mentorship, and the terrifying consequences of divorcing one's public image from one's true self. Wilde's Gothic masterpiece is both a thrilling psychological horror story and a profound meditation on vanity, art, morality, and the Victorian obsession with appearance over substance. Through Dorian's tragic descent, Wilde examines what happens when we prioritize surface beauty over inner character, when we let ourselves be shaped by toxic philosophies, and when we believe we can escape the consequences of our actions. The novel's shocking ending reminds us that the truth always surfaces, no matter how carefully we hide it, and that living without conscience inevitably destroys the soul. Published in 1890, the book scandalized Victorian society and remains startlingly relevant today in our image-obsessed culture.
What are the main themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The major themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray include Identity, Class, Consequences, Influence, Social Expectations. These themes are explored throughout the book's 20 chapters, offering insights into human nature and society that remain relevant today.
Why is The Picture of Dorian Gray considered a classic?
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is considered a classic because it offers timeless insights into personal growth. Written in 1890, the book continues to be studied in schools and universities for its literary merit and enduring relevance to modern readers.
How long does it take to read The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The Picture of Dorian Gray contains 20 chapters with an estimated total reading time of approximately 6 hours. Individual chapters range from 5-15 minutes each, making it manageable to read in shorter sessions.
Who should read The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is ideal for students studying classic fiction, book club members, and anyone interested in personal growth. The book is rated intermediate difficulty and is commonly assigned in high school and college literature courses.
Is The Picture of Dorian Gray hard to read?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is rated intermediate difficulty. Our chapter-by-chapter analysis breaks down complex passages, explains historical context, and highlights key themes to make the text more accessible. Each chapter includes summaries, character analysis, and discussion questions to deepen your understanding.
Can I use this study guide for essays and homework?
Yes! Our study guide is designed to supplement your reading of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Use it to understand themes, analyze characters, and find relevant quotes for your essays. However, always read the original text—this guide enhances but doesn't replace reading Oscar Wilde's work.
What makes this different from SparkNotes or CliffsNotes?
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