The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde
The (a) story follows charming socialite Dorian Gray, who seems to have it all: money, youth, beauty, and the interest and admiration of all who come across him. When a chance meeting with the influential Lord Henry Wotton prompts him to fear the inevitable loss of them all, Dorian unwittingly exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. And while his newfound hedonistic zest for life sends him on a path of depravity, his handsome, youthful features remain untouched as the years go by.
But the portrait hanging on his wall begins to change….
The (A) story is about vanity and the shallow standards of high society. We see this in every other character’s immediate fixation on Dorian’s good looks, which ultimately triggers his utter despair at the eventual loss of his youth. What does he have, once his beauty is gone? Certainly not much among the people he associates with. And for many socialites from any era, that reality is terrifying. Youth, beauty, and wealth are the only important factors in Dorian’s world, which is why he is able to maintain his high status even as rumors abound regarding his various depravities behind the scenes. Dorian looks innocent and good, therefore he must be, no matter what others are saying. As long as you have all the right qualities and tick off all the right boxes, it doesn’t matter what’s going on beneath the surface.
But the story is also a cautionary tale about influence and the types of people we choose to associate with. Basil’s immediate plea to Lord Henry near the start of the novel is, “Don’t spoil [Dorian]. Don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad.” A plea which, of course, Lord Henry simply laughs off and proceeds to ignore. From this exchange we can see that Basil is already familiar with Lord Henry’s unquestionable hedonism and is wary of the effects it has on those around him. Lord Henry, to put it bluntly, is a bad influence. It is very easy to believe that, had Dorian only chosen poor Basil’s company and philosophies over Lord Henry’s, the entire plot could have been avoided.
I first read this book for a high school English assignment. And while I don’t remember much of my initial impressions of the story or the characters, I do remember being pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to read and understand—which seems to be a general take I have on most classic literature. I do remember reading it a second and maybe even a third time on my own in the years following. All I really knew was that I liked it enough to pick it up again and again.
I think this is one book that, instead of finding things to nitpick as I grow older and gain more experience and insight, I understand a little better with each read. It truly is a haunting take on how we are often consumed by the things we deem beautiful and desirable in this world. Dorian Gray’s story is a harsh reminder that the things we strive for, no matter how benign they might seem in the grander scheme of things, can ultimately destroy us in the end if left unchecked.
If you’re itching for a literary classic with a touch of darkness to it, this is the way to go.