# The Picture of Dorian Gray

> 1890–1891 novel by Oscar Wilde

**Wikidata**: [Q82464](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82464)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-picture-of-dorian-gray

## Summary
*The Picture of Dorian Gray* is an 1890–1891 novel by Oscar Wilde, a seminal work of Gothic literature that explores themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The story follows the transformation of the beautiful young Dorian Gray, whose portrait ages and reflects his moral decay while he remains physically youthful, leading to a tragic downfall.

## Key Facts
- **Author**: Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
- **Publication Dates**: 1890–1891
- **Genre**: Gothic literature, drama fiction
- **Country of Origin**: United Kingdom, Ireland
- **Notable Work**: Part of Wilde’s literary legacy, including *The Importance of Being Earnest*
- **Awards**: No specific awards listed, but widely recognized as a classic of literature
- **Notable Characters**: Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, Sibyl Vane
- **Inspirations**: Wilde’s personal experiences and aesthetic philosophy
- **Literary Influence**: Prolific in Gothic and psychological themes, shaping modern literature
- **Related Entities**: Connected to Wilde’s other works and the Gothic literary tradition
- **Identifiers**:
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  - P1476: The Picture of Dorian Gray, Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray, Le portrait de Dorian Gray, Il ritratto di Dorian Gray, Het portret van Dorian Gray, El retrat de Dorian Gray, La Portreto de Dorian Gray, O Retrato de Dorian Gray, El retrato de Dorian Gray, 道林·格雷的画像, دی پکچر آف ڈوریا گرے, Bức chân dung của Dorian Gray, Dorian Grays porträtt, Портрет Дориана Грея, תמונתו של דוריאן גריי, صورة دوريان غراي, डोरियन ग्रे की तस्वीर, La semeya de Dorian Gray, Delt va Dorian Gray, Dorian Qreyin portreti, Партрэт Дарыяна Грэя, Портретът на Дориан Грей, দ্য পিকচার অফ ডোরিয়ান গ্রে, Slika Doriana Graya, وێنەی دۆریان گرەی, Obraz Doriana Graye, Billedet af Dorian Gray, Το Πορτραίτο του Ντόριαν Γκρέυ, Dorian Gray portree, Dorian Grayren erretratua, تصویر دوریان گری, Dorian Grayn muotokuva, O retrato de Dorian Gray, Slika Doriana Graya, Dorian Gray arcképe, Դորիան Գրեյի դիմանկարը, Տորիան Կրէյի Դիմանկարը, Lukisan Dorian Gray, ドリアン・グレイの肖像, დორიან გრეის პორტრეტი, Дориан Грейдің портреті, 도리언 그레이의 초상, Дориан Грейдин сүрөтү, Doriano Grėjaus portretas, Сликата на Доријан Греј, ദി പിക്ചർ ഓഫ് ഡോറിയൻ ഗ്രേ, Bildet av Dorian Gray, Portret Doriana Graya, Portretul lui Dorian Gray, Portrét Doriana Graya, Slika Doriana Graya, Portreti i Dorian Greit, Слика Доријана Греја, Dorian Gray'in Portresi, Портрет Доріана Грея, Dorian Grayning portreti
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  - Aliases: Picture of Dorian Gray, El retrato de Dorian Gray
  - Instance of: Q7725634
  - Sitelink count: 81
  - Wikipedia title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
  - Publication date: +1890-00-00T00:00:00Z, +1891-00-00T00:00:00Z

## FAQs
**What is the central theme of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*?**
The novel explores the consequences of vanity and moral decay, as the protagonist Dorian Gray’s portrait ages while he remains physically youthful, leading to his moral corruption and eventual downfall.

**Who are the main characters in the novel?**
The main characters include Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, and Sibyl Vane, each representing different aspects of society and morality.

**What genre does *The Picture of Dorian Gray* belong to?**
The novel is classified as Gothic literature and drama fiction, reflecting its dark themes and psychological depth.

**How does the novel reflect Wilde’s aesthetic philosophy?**
The story embodies Wilde’s aesthetic ideals, particularly the idea that beauty and art can be corrupted by moral decay, a central theme in his broader philosophical works.

**What is the significance of the portrait in the novel?**
The portrait serves as a symbol of Dorian’s moral decay, as it ages while he remains physically youthful, illustrating the novel’s central theme of vanity and corruption.

## Why It Matters
*The Picture of Dorian Gray* is a foundational work of Gothic literature that explores profound themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Its psychological depth and exploration of human nature have made it a classic of world literature. The novel’s influence extends beyond its literary merit, shaping modern interpretations of beauty, art, and the moral complexities of human behavior. Wilde’s exploration of these themes continues to resonate with readers, making the novel a timeless exploration of the human condition.

## Notable For
- **Gothic Literature**: Pioneering work in the Gothic genre, influencing subsequent dark and psychological narratives.
- **Psychological Depth**: Explores complex themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
- **Literary Legacy**: Recognized as a classic of world literature, shaping modern interpretations of beauty and art.
- **Cultural Impact**: The novel’s themes and characters have been adapted into various forms of media, ensuring its enduring relevance.
- **Aesthetic Philosophy**: Reflects Wilde’s broader philosophical ideas about art, beauty, and moral decay.

## Body
### Overview
*The Picture of Dorian Gray* is an 1890–1891 novel by Oscar Wilde, a seminal work of Gothic literature that explores themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The story follows the transformation of the beautiful young Dorian Gray, whose portrait ages and reflects his moral decay while he remains physically youthful, leading to a tragic downfall.

### Author and Background
- **Author**: Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), Irish poet, playwright, and aesthete.
- **Nationality**: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Ireland, United Kingdom, France.
- **Education**: Magdalen College (University of Oxford), Trinity College, Dublin.
- **Notable Works**: *The Importance of Being Earnest*, *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, *The Canterville Ghost*, *The Soul of Man under Socialism*, *The Ballad of Reading Gaol*.

### Plot and Themes
- **Plot**: Dorian Gray’s portrait ages while he remains physically youthful, reflecting his moral decay as he indulges in hedonism and corruption.
- **Themes**: Vanity, morality, the consequences of unchecked ambition, the relationship between art and morality.
- **Key Characters**:
  - **Dorian Gray**: The protagonist whose portrait ages while he remains physically youthful.
  - **Basil Hallward**: Dorian’s tutor and friend, who initially admires Dorian’s beauty.
  - **Lord Henry Wotton**: A hedonistic and morally corrupt friend who influences Dorian’s downfall.
  - **Sibyl Vane**: A tragic figure whose life is destroyed by Lord Henry’s manipulation.

### Genre and Influence
- **Genre**: Gothic literature, drama fiction.
- **Influence**: Prolific in Gothic and psychological themes, shaping modern literature.
- **Literary Legacy**: Recognized as a classic of world literature, influencing subsequent dark and psychological narratives.

### Cultural Impact
- **Adaptations**: The novel has been adapted into various forms of media, ensuring its enduring relevance.
- **Aesthetic Philosophy**: Reflects Wilde’s broader philosophical ideas about art, beauty, and moral decay.
- **Cultural Significance**: The novel’s themes and characters continue to resonate with readers, making it a timeless exploration of the human condition.

### Related Entities
- **Connected Works**: Part of Wilde’s literary legacy, including *The Importance of Being Earnest*.
- **Literary Tradition**: Connected to the Gothic literary tradition and Wilde’s broader aesthetic philosophy.
- **Identifiers**: Various identifiers and properties from Wikidata and academic sources, ensuring comprehensive documentation.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Q111974391
3. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. MusicBrainz
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [The Picture of Dorian Gray | Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki | Fandom](https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray)
8. [Source](https://wolnelektury.pl/katalog/lektura/wilde-portret-doriana-graya/)
9. [The Picture of Dorian Gray (mirror) | Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki | Fandom](https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray_(mirror))
10. Goodreads
11. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute