The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde Sparknotes

The picture of dorian gray moral fantasy novel by irish writer oscar wilde published first in lippincott s monthly magazine in 1890 and as a book in 1891.

The picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde sparknotes. The picture of dorian gray is a novel by oscar wilde that was first published in 1890. It was criticized as scandalous and immoral. Dorian is a cultured wealthy and impossibly beautiful young man who immediately captures basil s artistic imagination. The novel opens in a painter s studio with basil hallward the artist that is painting the portrait of a young extraordinary beautiful aristocrat dorian gray and speaks about him to his friend lord henry wotton.

When the picture of dorian gray was first published in lippincott s monthly magazine in 1890 it was decried as immoral. Dorian sits for several portraits and basil often depicts him as an ancient greek hero or a mythological figure. The philosophy that the picture of dorian gray proposes can be extremely seductive and liberating. Unbeknownst to basil the.

The picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde. Basil hallward an artist paints a portrait of dorian gray. The purpose of art according to this series of epigrams is to have no purpose. In revising the text the following year wilde included a preface which serves as a useful explanation of his philosophy of art.

But wilde s words here reveal that society conscience or more likely both together ultimately make living that philosophy extremely difficult and even painful. Disappointed with its reception wilde revised the novel adding a preface and six new chapters. The picture of dorian gray. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.

In the stately london home of his aunt lady brandon the well known artist basil hallward meets dorian gray. Wilde published his only novel the picture of dorian gray before he reached the height of his fame. The first edition appeared in the summer of 1890 in lippincott s monthly magazine.