illustration of the upper-right corner of Dorian Gray's picture

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Start Free Trial

The Picture of Dorian Gray Questions on Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray Study Tools

Take a quiz Ask a question Start an essay

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray kills Basil in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" because Basil has seen the grotesque transformation of Dorian's portrait, a visual manifestation of his moral decay. Fearing exposure of his...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray's parents both died tragically. His mother, Margaret Devereux, eloped with a man who was soon killed in a duel arranged by her father, Lord Kelso. Margaret died within a year, leaving...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

As The Picture of Dorian Gray opens, Basil describes the beautiful Dorian as his artistic muse, a person who is changing the way he sees the world. After Dorian sells his soul to the devil, the...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Lord Henry and Basil have contrasting relationships with Dorian Gray. Basil, a humble painter, is genuinely devoted to Dorian, seeking to protect and preserve him, and often offers moral guidance. In...

3 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The internal conflict in The Picture of Dorian Gray is Dorian's desire for eternal youth, which clashes with the inevitability of aging and moral decay. Externally, he battles the consequences of his...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Examples of duality in The Picture of Dorian Gray include the contrast between illusion and reality, beauty and ugliness, and youth and age. Dorian's youthful appearance contrasts with his corrupt...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Freud's concepts of the id and super-ego are key to understanding Dorian's identity. In the novel, Lord Henry represents the id, urging Dorian towards selfish indulgence, while Basil embodies the...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is considered a "dandy" due to his excessive preoccupation with appearance, fashion, and social status, typical of the Victorian Era's definition of the term. He is primarily concerned...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is an antihero because he embodies qualities contrary to traditional heroism. While he appears young, handsome, and vibrant, his actions are far from heroic, involving murder, influencing...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray arranges for the disposal of Basil Hallward's corpse by blackmailing his former friend, Alan Campbell, to use his scientific knowledge to destroy the body. In Chapter Fourteen, Dorian...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In Chapter 4, Lord Henry makes comments that inadvertently reflect on Dorian's masculinity. He describes women as "decorative," implying they lack originality, which parallels Dorian's own...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The main characters in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" are Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, and Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian is a dynamic and complex character who changes under Lord Henry's influence,...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Sibyl stops acting because her love for Dorian makes her see the stage as hollow and false, as she can no longer pretend to feel emotions she doesn't experience. Dorian reacts harshly, feeling that...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde's characterization of himself through "The Picture of Dorian Gray" reflects his complex self-perception. He identifies with Basil Hallward, seeing himself as a sensitive artist, while...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde employs rhetorical strategies such as irony, paradox, and epigrams. Irony is used to highlight the contrast between appearance and reality, while paradoxes...

5 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Introducing Dorian Gray through Basil and Lord Henry's conversation creates curiosity and suspense about the protagonist. It allows readers to see Dorian from others' perspectives, learning about his...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian's past in The Picture of Dorian Gray significantly impacts his life by leading to his moral downfall. His actions, including the murder of Basil Hallward and the blackmail of Alan Campbell,...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Lord Henry's influence on Dorian Gray is a catalyst for Dorian's moral downfall. He encourages Dorian's superficiality, as seen when he dismisses Sibyl Vane's poor acting and suggests marrying her...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Lord Henry is eager to meet Dorian Gray because he is captivated by the description of Dorian's beauty and charm relayed by his friend Basil. Basil's reluctance to show Dorian's portrait and fear...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, innocence is treated as an accidental state of mind. It is a primitive sense of being that is inherent to the less sophisticated, and more ignorant species. As Lord...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray's downfall in The Picture of Dorian Gray is driven by his narcissism, vanity, and susceptibility to influence, particularly by Lord Henry. His obsession with maintaining youth and beauty...

4 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Mr. Isaacs, Sibyl Vane's manager in "The Picture of Dorian Gray," is described by Dorian as a "fat Jew" with an "oily tremulous" smile. Dorian finds him pompous, loud, and overly demonstrative, with...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The greatest painter of the Victorian Age, Basil Hallward, proclaims that he will suffer for his artistic abilities. He predicts that Lord Henry Wotton's wealth and privileged social position will...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Chapter Two of The Picture of Dorian Gray raises several questions pivotal to the story. Why did Basil hesitate to introduce Dorian to Lord Henry, and did he foresee Lord Henry's corrupting...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Friendship in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is a double-edged sword. It can be used to hurt or help, depending on the characters involved and their intents at the time.

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray are considered stereotypical and somewhat flat, as they do not undergo significant change throughout the novel. Lord Henry Wooton, Dorian Gray, and Basil...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Basil's murder is depicted by Oscar Wilde as a significant act of despair for Dorian Gray. The murder occurs spontaneously, driven by Dorian's uncontrollable anger and his inner demons, which have...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray's birth circumstances involve a tragic family history. His mother, Lady Margaret Devereaux, married a man disapproved of by her father, Lord Kelso. Her husband, a "penniless young...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray uses the metaphor of an inn to describe his relationship with religion, particularly Catholicism. He likens it to a temporary stay, not a permanent home, indicating his lack of commitment...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian rejects Sibyl Vane because he is initially attracted to her artistic talent and the illusion she creates on stage. However, after Sibyl falls in love with Dorian and performs poorly, she...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

A possible thesis for a character analysis of Dorian Gray is to examine his transformation from innocence to corruption, driven by hedonism and influenced by Lord Henry. The thesis could be: "The...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray portrays Anti-Victorianism, decadence, anti-class structure, and anti-community by challenging the era's moral values. The novel criticizes the superficiality and hypocrisy...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde portrays polite London society as deeply divided, with the wealthy enjoying opulence and freedom while the poor face severe limitations. Characters like Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde makes a number of references to both contemporary and classical texts. The influence of these texts is central to the novel's themes of hedonism and...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray conceives the idea of the portrait aging instead of him after being influenced by Lord Henry Wotton, who espouses a philosophy that prioritizes sensual pleasure over morality. Enamored...

2 educator answers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian and Sibyl have contrasting views on art and reality. Sibyl initially views art as her reality, finding fulfillment and meaning in her theatrical performances. However, her love for Dorian...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is fascinated by the passing years because, unlike his portrait, his physical appearance remains forever youthful and beautiful due to a supernatural pact. This allows him to indulge in...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In the conservatory window at his estate, Dorian Gray sees the face of James Vane, described as being "pressed against the window like a white handkerchief." This sight shocks Dorian, causing him to...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is obsessed with his physical appearance, and has a portrait painted by Basil Hallward. As the years go by, Dorian begins to feel the effects of the sins he commits against himself and...

1 educator answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In "The Picture of Dorian Gray," Wilde uses characterization to explore the theme of art imitating life. Dorian Gray's portrait reflects his inner corruption and moral decay while he remains...

1 educator answer