The Picture of Dorian Gray (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Oscar Wilde
- First Published: 1890
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy
- Time of Work: Late nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Long fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Murder or homicide, Nineteenth century, Guilt, England or English people, Good and evil, Moral conditions, London, Youth, Ethics, Painting or painters, Pictures
- Locales: London, England
Characters Discussed
Dorian Gray, a handsome young man who, while visiting the studio of an artist friend who is painting his portrait, idly wishes that the portrait would grow old while he himself remained young looking. Later, having treated a young woman cruelly, he notices the first sign of alteration in the portrait. Alarmed, he decides to repent and to marry her, but he learns that she has killed herself. He now gives himself over entirely to a life of corruption, under the tutelage of an evil friend. His crimes include murder. At last he decides to destroy the hideous...
[The entire page is 667 words long]
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