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| Plot Summary of The Picture of Dorian Gray |
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"Young and beautiful Dorian Gray's wish comes true. A portrait of him ages while he does not. Caught up in the pleasure of evils, he loses sight of everything valuable to him and becomes his own worst enemy."
Wendy Edwards, Resident Scholar
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"An artist, besotted with the beauty of the young man Dorian Gray, paints his finest work, a portrait of breathtaking power and youthful splendour. Dorian, having been rocked by the thought that he too will grow old and unlovely one day, impetuously wishes that he could ever and forever look as the proud beauty in the picture does. The moment is bewitched, and his wish is granted. He proceeds to live life to the full, he takes what pleasure he wishes, to the degree he wishes, whenever he wishes, without regard for consequence to himself or others. He remains a pristine god-like wonder to behold. But the picture tells his tale in the changing portrait, which he must hide in the dust of the attic. Every debauch, every cruel and unheeding act, every draining of life's dregs is reflected in the horror that the portrait becomes. One day it must all be paid for and come to an end. And too late he realises that he has been paying for all that he has done as he went along, despite appearences - paying with his soul and his humanity."
Michael JR Jose, Resident Scholar
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"Artist Basil Hallward has painted a picture
he considers his masterpiece, and much too
good for the likes of the traditional Salon
in Paris. No, he tells Lord Henry,
this one he's keeping for himself, or possibly
make a present of it to the blond young man
who sat for the picture. The man portrayed is
an orphaned society child named Dorian Gray.
Later, when Dorian finishes sitting for
the portrait, he makes a wish that he would
stay perfect and beautiful and youthful just
like his picture at 22. Basis makes the portrait
a present to Dorian. Dorian then becomes apprenticed
to Lord Henry in the ways of the world, (which
includes both boys and girls). This is what
Basil Hallward feared the most: his beautiful
blond boy becoming decadent like Lord Henry.
When an actress named Sybil Vane commits suicide
over a broken engagement to Dorian, the picture
takes on the slight look of cruelty around the
mouth. Dorian indulges himself in his money and
social fame, and his face remains unchanged. "
Joan Clare, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Picture of Dorian Gray |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 19th century
Life of a profession:
- artist
Internal struggle/realization?
Yes
Struggle over
- vague finding self/purpose in life (i.e. no plot to book)
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story
Yes
Love problems?
- gay guy urges
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- wealthy
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric/Mental
Yes
Eccentric:
- deluded
- wild
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- wealthy
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 3 ()
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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