Picture of Dorian Gray

Picture of Dorian Gray

1. Themes

   • Innocence & Corruption of Innocence
   • Good vs. Evil
   • Aestheticism
     • "People are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves..." --> "depth of generosity"--> giver ends up hungry & naked (p.33)
     • Emotions = useless
     • The pursuit of pleasure is tantamount to those of everyone else.
     • Anything that is pleasurable to the senses
   • Youth & Beauty
   • Manners vs. Morals
     • DG doesn't need morals
     • Respectability vs. A Good Chef
       • Saying morals are as important as a good chef
     • Appearance vs. Reality
       • DG has no morals
   • Duality vs. Humans
     • Dorian Gray's internal struggle throughout the book (p. 79)
   • Class System
     • By hanging out with Lord Henry, Dorian Gray managed to gain social status.
   • Romantic vs. Realistic
   • Hedonism
     • The pursuit of pleasure
   • Influence & Corruption

2. Important Items from the Work

   • The Portrait
     • Is the window to Dorian's soul --> Shows Dorian's true self
     • Dorian's external duality
   • The Book
     • Corrupts Dorian
     • Is filled with Lord Henry's beliefs --> aestheticism 
   • The Pall/Cover
     • Hides Dorian's true self from everyone else

3. Characters

   • Dorian Gray
     • Alan Campbell
     • Beauty & Youth
     • Innocence
     • Influence & Corruption
   • Basil Hallward
     • Represents naivety in society.
     • Basil thinks Dorian is innocent --> Basil is naive and wants to believe the best in people--> Artists are naive for a reason (p. 44)
     • Innocence
   • Lord Henry Wotton
     • Basically portrays the aesthetic thoughts of Oscar Wilde
     • Corrupts Dorian's innocence
     • Aestheticism
       • The purpose of art
     • Influence & Corruption
   • Sibyl Vain
     • Represents what Lord Henry detests --> innocence and love (p. 33)
     • James Vain
     • Mrs. Vain
       • Sees anything and everything as if it's a play/drama --> is disconnected and very superficial
     • Innocence