What lessons does The Picture of Dorian Gray teach?

Wilde himself admits, in a letter to the St. James’s Gazette, that Dorian Gray “is a story with a moral. And the moral is this: All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment” (Wilde 248).

What is the main message of Dorian Gray?

The main theme of The Picture of Dorian Gray is the relationship between beauty and morality. Oscar Wilde plays on the Renaissance idea of the correspondence between the physical and spiritual realms: beautiful people are moral people; ugly people are immoral people.

What type of person is Dorian Gray?

A radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young gentleman, whose portrait the artist Basil Hallward paints. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian becomes extremely concerned with the transience of his beauty and begins to pursue his own pleasure above all else.

Why would you recommend The Picture of Dorian Gray?

It tells the story of a young, attractive socialite in nineteenth century London who is painted in a portrait. He semi-seriously prays for the painting, and not himself, to bear the burden of age and sin. As the years advance and his soul blackens, it becomes apparent that his supernatural wish has been granted.

What is hedonism in Dorian Gray?

Pleasure is the indispensable principle of the philosophy of Hedonism. Wilde designated hedonism in The Picture of Dorian Gray, by injecting the idea of seeking pleasure into the protagonist’s mind and life. Dorian Gray follows hedonism and gives freedom to all his desires, and seeks any kind of pleasure.

What happens to Dorian Gray?

By Oscar Wilde He slashes at it with a knife (appropriately the very same knife with which he murdered his ex-friend, Basil Hallward), hoping to do away with the evidence of his crimes. But the plan backfires dramatically: by stabbing the portrait, Dorian inadvertently kills himself.

Who is Dorian Gray in love with?

Sibyl
Men do have relationships with women in the novel—Dorian falls in love with Sibyl and Lord Henry himself is married—but the novel’s heterosexual relationships prove to be rather superficial and short-lived. If the novel is homoerotic, it is also misogynistic.

What age rating is Dorian Gray?

An incomplete version of DORIAN GRAY was originally submitted to the BBFC for advice. The BBFC advised the company that, as it stood, the film was likely to achieve an ’18’ classification. However, the company was also informed that reductions in two scenes could result in the requested ’15’ classification.

Is the picture of Dorian Gray appropriate for high school?

Intended Audience: Middle and High School students. The novel is an easy-read and although it contains dense concepts, such as homosexuality and the aestheticism movement, its audience is intended for secondary and pre-secondary students.

Is Dorian Gray an easy read?

In short,you will not have any difficulty reading ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ if ever you’re someone who despises mammoth books.As a matter of fact, I finished it in 3 days,albeit trying my best not to read it so quickly! Yep!

How does Dorian live hedonistic life?

Wilde designated hedonism in The Picture of Dorian Gray, by injecting the idea of seeking pleasure into the protagonist’s mind and life. Dorian Gray follows hedonism and gives freedom to all his desires, and seeks any kind of pleasure.

Was Wilde a hedonist?

Oscar Wilde was merely a hedonist who, as he admitted, put his genius into his life but only his talent into his works. At his trial Wilde said that his aim in life had been self-realisation through pleasure rather than suffering.

What should Dorian Gray say when Henry Wotton dies?

I should be sorry to miss you.” “Basil,” cried Dorian Gray, “if Lord Henry Wotton goes, I shall go, too. You never open your lips while you are painting, and it is horribly dull standing on a platform and trying to look pleasant.

What does Dorian say about sitting to-day?

“That entirely depends on how you sit to-day, Dorian.” “Oh, I am tired of sitting, and I don’t want a life-sized portrait of myself,” answered the lad, swinging round on the music-stool in a wilful, petulant manner. When he caught sight of Lord Henry, a faint blush coloured his cheeks for a moment, and he started up.

What are Dorian’s whims laws to everybody except himself?

Dorian’s whims are laws to everybody, except himself.” Lord Henry took up his hat and gloves. “You are very pressing, Basil, but I am afraid I must go. I have promised to meet a man at the Orleans.

What did Dorian say to Lord Henry?

“That is very horrid to her, and not very nice to me,” answered Dorian, laughing. Lord Henry looked at him. Yes, he was certainly wonderfully handsome, with his finely curved scarlet lips, his frank blue eyes, his crisp gold hair. There was something in his face that made one trust him at once.