The Picture of Dorian Gray Characters and Themes
Three men are at the center of the book: Dorian Gray, the beautiful subject of the portrait; Basil Hallward, the painter who adores him; and Lord Henry Wotton, the witty cynic who corrupts him. The main themes are beauty, youth, art and the price of a life lived without conscience.
Wilde said each of the three men reflected a part of himself.
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Dorian Gray | A young man whose portrait ages in his place |
| Basil Hallward | The painter who made the portrait |
| Lord Henry Wotton | A cynical aristocrat who influences Dorian |
| Sibyl Vane | An actress Dorian loves, then rejects |
| James Vane | Sibyl's brother, who seeks revenge |
Who are Dorian, Basil and Lord Henry?
Dorian begins as an innocent, admired young man and becomes selfish and cruel. Basil is a moral, sensitive painter whose art is transformed by Dorian's beauty, and he loves Dorian deeply. Lord Henry is a witty, idle aristocrat who preaches a philosophy of pleasure and does not take responsibility for its effects.
Wilde said Basil is what he thinks he is, Lord Henry what the world thinks him, and Dorian what he would like to be.
↑ Back to the topWho are Sibyl and James Vane?
Sibyl Vane is a young actress in a shabby theater who calls Dorian Prince Charming. Dorian's cruelty to her is the moment the portrait first changes. Her brother James is protective, vows revenge on the man who wronged her and pursues Dorian for years.
Others in the book include Lady Agatha, Lord Henry's aunt, and Hetty Merton, a country girl Dorian decides to spare.
↑ Back to the topWhat is the main theme?
Lord Henry tells Dorian that youth and beauty are the only things that matter, and Dorian's wish to stay young drives the plot. The portrait shows what that choice costs: while his face stays perfect, his soul is visibly corrupted.
↑ Back to the topWhat does the book say about art?
Wilde's preface argues that art should be judged on its beauty, not on its morals. Yet the novel itself carries a moral about the harm done by a life of pure self-indulgence. Wilde said in reply to his critics that the book has a terrible moral.
↑ Back to the topWhat else is in the book?
The novel also looks at how one person's ideas can corrupt another, at how a secret life can be hidden from society and at the way conscience cannot be switched off. Critics have also noted its themes of narcissism and the book's hidden references to homosexuality, which Victorian readers could not discuss openly.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Picture of Dorian Gray
This guide covers Oscar Wilde's novel in its 1890 and 1891 versions. Page counts vary by edition.