The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde
Wilde's only novel. Beautiful sentences, beautiful corruption. A book about what beauty costs.
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The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian GrayRead 11 hand-picked quotes from The Picture of Dorian Gray, with meaning →4 The Picture of Dorian Gray memes, decoded →
The Picture of Dorian Gray: study guide
Everything you need to follow The Picture of Dorian Gray: what happens, who it happens to, what it means, and the words worth learning along the way. The links at the top of the page jump straight to any part of it.
The Picture of Dorian Gray summary
Dorian Gray, a young man of extraordinary beauty, wishes that his portrait would age instead of him. As he indulges in a life of hedonism and moral corruption under the influence of Lord Henry, his wish comes true, and the portrait bears the marks of his sins.
Setting: The novel is set in late 19th-century London, England.
Show the full summary↓
Contains spoilers, including the ending.
The novel begins with Basil Hallward, an artist, painting a portrait of the beautiful Dorian Gray. Basil's friend, Lord Henry Wotton, meets Dorian and influences him with his hedonistic worldview. Dorian, wishing to remain forever youthful, expresses a desire for his portrait to age in his place.
As time passes, Dorian indulges in a life of pleasure and vice, influenced by Lord Henry's philosophies. The portrait, hidden away in his attic, begins to show signs of aging and corruption, reflecting Dorian's inner moral decay.
Dorian's actions lead to the ruin of several people, including Sibyl Vane, an actress he loves and then rejects, leading to her suicide. Dorian's conscience is troubled, but he continues his decadent lifestyle, and the portrait grows more grotesque.
Basil confronts Dorian about the rumors of his immoral life. Dorian shows Basil the corrupted portrait, and in a fit of rage, he murders Basil. As Dorian's life spirals further out of control, he becomes paranoid about the secret of the portrait being discovered.
Eventually, Dorian decides to change his ways and live a virtuous life, hoping to restore the portrait. However, when he checks the portrait, it only shows more hypocrisy and deceit. Realizing the portrait is the last piece of evidence of his sins, he attempts to destroy it.
In the end, Dorian stabs the portrait. In doing so, he kills himself. The servants find a decrepit old man dead on the floor, and the portrait restored to its original beauty, revealing the true cost of Dorian's wish.
The Picture of Dorian Gray characters
The main characters of The Picture of Dorian Gray, who they are and what they do in the story.
Dorian Gray
protagonistDorian Gray is a handsome and impressionable young man who becomes corrupted by a desire for eternal youth and beauty. His wish for his portrait to age instead of him leads to a life of moral decay.
Lord Henry Wotton
antagonistLord Henry is a charming and witty nobleman who influences Dorian with his hedonistic and amoral philosophy. He believes in the pursuit of pleasure and has a significant impact on Dorian's life choices.
Basil Hallward
supportingBasil is an artist and the painter of Dorian's portrait. He admires Dorian's beauty and is concerned about the influence Lord Henry has on him. Basil's friendship with Dorian leads to his tragic end.
Sibyl Vane
supportingSibyl is a talented actress and Dorian's first love. Her relationship with Dorian ends in tragedy, as his rejection leads to her suicide, marking the beginning of Dorian's moral decline.
James Vane
supportingJames is Sibyl Vane's brother, who seeks revenge on Dorian for his sister's death. His pursuit of Dorian adds tension to the story and contributes to Dorian's paranoia.
Alan Campbell
supportingAlan is a former friend of Dorian who is coerced into helping dispose of Basil's body. His involvement with Dorian leads to his own downfall and eventual suicide.
Themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray
The major themes of The Picture of Dorian Gray and what each one means in the story.
Aestheticism and Moral Corruption
The novel explores the conflict between aesthetic beauty and moral integrity. Dorian's pursuit of beauty leads to his moral corruption, as the portrait becomes a symbol of his decaying soul.
Influence and Manipulation
Lord Henry's influence over Dorian demonstrates the power of manipulation and its destructive effects. Dorian becomes a reflection of Lord Henry's philosophy, leading to his downfall.
The Duality of Human Nature
The novel highlights the duality of human nature through Dorian's outward beauty and inner corruption. The portrait serves as a mirror to his soul, revealing the consequences of a life of sin.
The Consequences of Vanity
Dorian's vanity and desire for eternal youth drive the plot and lead to his eventual ruin. The novel warns of the dangers of placing too much value on physical appearance.
The Illusion of Eternal Youth
Dorian's wish for eternal youth is granted at a terrible cost. The novel examines the illusion of eternal youth and the inevitable consequences of trying to escape the natural aging process.
The Picture of Dorian Gray vocabulary
24 useful words from The Picture of Dorian Gray, from easier to harder. Each has a simple meaning and an example sentence, so you learn words you can actually use, not just recognise. While you read here, tapping any word does the same thing.
- studionoun
a room where an artist works
“The artist spent hours painting in her studio.”
- gardennoun
a piece of ground where flowers or vegetables are grown
“She planted roses in her garden.”
- portraitnoun
a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person
“The museum displayed a famous portrait of the queen.”
- artistnoun
a person who creates art, such as paintings or drawings
“The artist used bright colors in her paintings.”
- smilenoun
a facial expression showing happiness or friendliness
“He gave her a warm smile.”
- pleasurenoun
a feeling of happiness or enjoyment
“Reading gives me great pleasure.”
- laughverb
to make sounds with your voice when you find something funny
“The joke made everyone laugh.”
- vainadjective
having too much pride in your appearance or achievements
“She was too vain to wear glasses.”
- beautynoun
the quality of being physically attractive
“The sunset was a scene of great beauty.”
- intellectualadjective
relating to the ability to think and understand ideas
“He enjoyed intellectual conversations about philosophy.”
- emotionnoun
a strong feeling such as love, anger, or happiness
“She couldn't hide her emotion when she received the news.”
- exhibitverb
to show something publicly
“The gallery will exhibit modern art next month.”
- reputationnoun
the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something
“She has a reputation for being very kind.”
- fascinateverb
to attract and hold the attention of someone
“The magician's tricks never fail to fascinate the audience.”
- mysteriousadjective
difficult to understand or explain
“The old house had a mysterious atmosphere.”
- secrecynoun
the act of keeping something secret or hidden
“The plan was made in complete secrecy.”
- charmnoun
a quality that makes someone or something attractive or pleasant
“The little village had a certain charm.”
- influencenoun
the power to affect how someone thinks or behaves
“Her parents had a strong influence on her career choice.”
- extraordinaryadjective
very unusual or remarkable
“He had an extraordinary talent for music.”
- personalitynoun
the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's character
“She has a lively personality that makes her popular.”
- independentadjective
not influenced or controlled by others
“She is an independent thinker and likes to make her own decisions.”
- crisisnoun
a time of intense difficulty or danger
“The company faced a financial crisis last year.”
- destinynoun
the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future
“He believed it was his destiny to become a doctor.”
- fatenoun
the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power
“Many people believe in fate and think everything happens for a reason.”
How readClassicly reads The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray is book 9 of 12 in our free year-long classics reading plan. At our daily pace of 8 pages, the book takes around 4 weeks to finish.
You log pages as you go in a private dashboard. When you finish, a short quiz unlocks the next book in the sequence. No deadlines, no summaries pretending to be reading.
Don't want to follow the order? You don't have to. Members can start with any of the twelve books, and the plan just nudges you back to the recommended path if you fall behind.
Why we picked it
A novel about beauty, vanity, and what they cost. By the master of the perfect sentence.
Suitable for 16+. Level B2-C1, which means readers comfortable with upper-intermediate English will follow it without a dictionary; lower-intermediate readers can read with light support.
The Picture of Dorian Gray: reading level & FAQ
What reading level is The Picture of Dorian Gray?↓
The Picture of Dorian Gray is rated B2-C1 on the CEFR scale and is suitable for ages 16+. It is a good fit for readers building toward or reading comfortably at that level.
Can I read The Picture of Dorian Gray online for free?↓
Yes. The Picture of Dorian Gray is in the public domain and free to read online at readClassicly, with a reading tracker and a short quiz. No account is needed to read it.
What is The Picture of Dorian Gray about?↓
Dorian Gray, a young man of extraordinary beauty, wishes that his portrait would age instead of him. As he indulges in a life of hedonism and moral corruption under the influence of Lord Henry, his wish comes true, and the portrait bears the marks of his sins.
How does The Picture of Dorian Gray end?↓
In the end, Dorian stabs the portrait. In doing so, he kills himself. The servants find a decrepit old man dead on the floor, and the portrait restored to its original beauty, revealing the true cost of Dorian's wish.
Wondering how long it takes? The Picture of Dorian Gray is 78,652 words, about 5 hours, broken down by reading speed and by how many minutes a day you give it.
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