Dorian Gray is a beautiful, fashionable young man, with a tragic history, who becomes the muse for artist Basil Hallwood. More than a little enamoured of the beautiful innocence Dorian portrays with his unspolit looks, Basil is inspired to paint his finest work yet - a portrait of Dorian, which will record his exquisite form for posterity.
Whilst sitting for Basil, Dorian is introduced to the deplorable Sir Henry Wooton, who sets about introducing Dorian to the seedy side of life, despite Basil's pleas to refrain from spoiling his innocence.
As the portrait is completed, a strange kind of magic is created by the presence of Basil, Dorian and Lord Henry. They are discussing aesthetics and the inevitability that time wreaks destruction on youth and beauty. Dorian is suddenly struck by the notion that age will claim him too and destroy the perfection that Basil has captured so well in his portrait. At this moment, Dorian wishes he would never age and always remain as he looks now, and a bargain is unknowingly, struck with the Devil, which will cost him his immortal soul.
As Lord Henry inducts Dorian into the lifestyle of depravity and vice, his features remain unmarked by the cost of living such an existence, but Dorian soon begins to notice in change in the hitherto pristine painting.
Can Dorian's soul be redeemed?
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The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde's most famous work and was considered to be most shocking and have a corrupting influence, but he always insisted the there is “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray” and he is absolutely right.
Dorian begins the novel as a beautiful, but tragic character. His mother was disowned by her wealthy father, on marrying a humble soldier, and Dorian found himself an orphan at a very young age. Although he was then recognised by his grandfather, he served to be a constant reminder of the circumstances of his birth and he received nothing but coldness and neglect from him. Dorian knows nothing of love and tenderness and it is not surprising that his head is turned when he is shown attention - first by Basil and then, disastrously, by Sir Henry.
Basil makes Dorian aware of his beauty, but it is Sir Henry that makes him think about his own mortality. Basil appears boring and sedate in Dorian's eyes, while Sir Henry is bold, dashing and slightly dangerous. Basil is enamoured of Dorian - although perhaps this is simply as an ideal, a muse, rather than earthly love - but it is Dorian who becomes enamoured of the kind of lifestyle Sir Henry shows him...and therein lies his downfall.
This is certainly a moral tale. Its lesson is to teach us that to wish for an existence that defies nature, and decency, is to invite ruination. Dorian immerses himself in a depraved manner of living, seemingly without consequence. He soon outstrips Lord Henry in the depths he will go to to ensure maximum pleasure and he has the funds, and looks, to get anything he wants.
The young, naive Dorian we meet at the beginning of the novel, transforms completely into a monster, without guilt or conscience, but his outward appearance remains uncannily unchanged. His faultless appearance may fool many, but the companions of his dark deeds soon begin to shun him and suffer the consequences of the degenerate acts he has tempted them into. Rumours abound about the truth behind the beautiful face. Dorian's evil knows no bounds and he cannot escape unscathed for ever. Even Dorian eventually regrets the course his life has taken and longs to begin again.
Wilde's own comments about the legacy of his most famous work are extremely interesting and give as a fascinating insight to his own thoughts on the book - “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”
I have to admit that it is Lord Henry who comes across as the most Oscar Wilde like in his behaviours and speech, based upon his reputation. How much he really considered himself to be the Basil Hallwood of the piece is up for debate, although the homosexual overtones of Basil's love for Dorian are there for all to see. It seems rather telling though that Wilde would like to have been Dorian Gray - able to act as he pleased without consequence - especially considering Wilde's own tragic end.
I thoroughly enjoyed re-visiting The Picture of Dorian Gray as it has been many years since I first read this. The prose is wonderful - especially the descriptions of the sumptuous and decadent pursuits Dorian immerses himself in. It is completely absorbing.
The message of the original tale is impossible to ignore and it actually makes me sad to see the many adaptations of this tale where Dorian is portrayed as defending his portrait to the bitter end against the violence of others keen to destroy him. These versions continue to abound, but in portraying Dorian this way, you lose the essential message Oscar Wilde intended. It is important that Dorian regrets the life he has led as the end, or what is the point of the story?
If you have never read this marvellous book, which has spawned so many tales of debauched characters with a "picture in the attic", then I can only suggest that you consider doing so - it will open your eyes to the original intent of Oscar Wilde in penning this infamous novel. This remains a morality tale at heart, not a suggestion of how to live your life!
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