The Picture Of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde first published in 1890. In his preface to this, the only novel that he ever wrote, Wilde remarked "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."

Summary

Dorian Gray is a handsome and nave young man living in England. His artist friend, Basil Hallward, is obsessed with his beauty and paints a perfect portrait of him. Dorian sees the finished painting and wishes that the picture would grow old and ugly instead of him - so he would stay just as the picture looks and the picture would look like him. Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil's famous for his cynicism, also befriends Dorian and becomes the agent of Dorian's transformation from an earnest naif to a sarcastic misanthrope. Dorian falls in love with an actress, Sibyl Vane. She loves him back, but being in love makes her act poorly. He thus rejects her, causing her to commit suicide. After this, Dorian notices that his painting has a sneer on it, so he locks it in an unused room. Over eighteen years, Dorian becomes more and more evil, but looks the same as always, while his painting becomes ugly and distorted. Dorian eventually kills Basil in the room where he keeps the painting because of his loathing of him. He realizes that in part it is Basil's fault he has to suffer eternal youth. Dorian feels guilty over this, and goes to an opium parlour to lose himself. There, he sees Sibyl's brother, who tries to kill him, but he escapes. Later, the brother is accidentally killed by some hunters. Dorian decides to make up for the past life and become a new man, but with the help of his painting, he realizes he is just a hypocrite. He stabs the painting. His maids hear a crash, and go to see what happened. The painting looks just as it did when it was painted, and Dorian is lying stabbed on the floor, an old, ugly man.

Publication history

The Picture of Dorian Gray
Corresponding chapters in different editions
1890 edition1891 edition
11
22
-3
34
-5
46
57
68
79
810
911
1012
1113
1214
-15
-16
-17
-18
1319/20
The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in the July 1890 edition of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. Numerous changes were made to Oscar Wilde's manuscripts of the novel (some of which survive to this day) prior to publication. Some of these changes were made at Wilde's instigation, and some at the instigation of the editor of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, JM Stoddart. One especially notable change is the removal from the manuscripts of references to the fictitious book Le Secret de Raoul, and to its fictitious author, Catulle Sarrazin. The book and its author are still referred to in the published versions of the novel, but are unnamed. A substantially revised and expanded edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray was published by Ward, Lock and Bowden in April 1891. For this edition, Wilde revised the content of the novel's existing chapters, divided the final chapter into two chapters, and created six entirely new additional chapters. Whereas the original edition of the novel contains 13 chapters, the revised edition of the novel contains 20 chapters. The table on the right shows how the chapters in the two different editions correspond to one another. Between the publication of the original edition of the novel and the publication of the revised edition, Wilde published his "Preface" to the novel, in the 1 March 1891 edition of the literary/scientific journal the Fortnightly Review. This "Preface", which could be considered an aesthetic manifesto, consisted of 24 aphorisms - the first being 'The artist is the creator of beautiful things', and the last being 'All art is quite useless' - expounding some of the key tenets of aesthetic philosophy. Wilde added another aphorism - 'No artist is ever morbid. The artist can express everything.' - to the "Preface", when it was included in the revised edition of the novel published in April 1891. One especially notable change made for the revised edition is that whereas events in the latter half of the novel were previously specified as taking place around Dorian Gray's 32nd birthday, on 7 November; they were now specified as taking place around Dorian Gray's 38th birthday, on 9 November. This has the effect of extending the period of time over which the story occurs. The revised edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray, incorporating the 25 aphorisms of the "Preface", has come to be considered the standard edition, and is widely held to be superior to its published predecessor. Nonetheless, it is instructive to compare the manuscripts and the two different editions of Wilde's novel. Critics have been especially interested in the purging of homoerotic themes and allusions during the course of the novel's development, so that while such themes and allusions abound in the final revised edition, they are less explicit than in previous versions of the novel - although no less effective for that. These changes to the novel are not merely of academic interest, but were relevant to the three prosecutions involving Oscar Wilde that took place in the spring of 1895, resulting in his eventual arrest and imprisonment. John Sholto Douglas' defence attorney in the first prosecution, Edward Carson, attempted to use The Picture of Dorian Gray as evidence of Wilde's corrupting influence upon Alfred Douglas. Carson referred to the fact that Wilde had revised the novel, and cast aspersions upon his motivation for so doing. Some latter-day editions of The Picture of Dorian Gray silently change the word 'Jew', which is used disparagingly in chapters 4 and 7 of the novel, to the word 'man', presumably an instance of political correctness.

Individuals referred to in the novel

The number of each chapter of The Picture of Dorian Gray in which an individual is referred to is given in parentheses alongside their name. These chapter numbers are specific to the revised edition of the novel first published in April 1891.

Fictitious (created by Oscar Wilde)

71 fictitous individuals, referred to by name in the novel, are creations of Oscar Wilde. These individuals are listed in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text. Chapter numbers are listed for chapters in which an individual's name is referred to either in full or in abbreviated form, but not for chapters in which an individual appears anonymously or pseudonymously. Titles/salutations are only given here in lieu of a full name, when a full name is not given in the novel. Where an individual also appears elsewhere in Wilde's oeuvre, this is indicated.
  • Henry Wotton (1-4, 6-12, 14-20)
  • Basil Hallward (1-3, 6-14, 16, 19-20)
  • Dorian Gray (1-4, 6-17, 19-20)
  • Lady Brandon (1)
  • Southwark (named after the location Southwark) (1)
  • Lord Goodbody (1)
  • Lady Agatha (1-3)
  • Parker (1, 2)
  • George Fermor (3)
  • Lord Kelso (named after the location Kelso) (3, 10)
  • Margaret Devereux (3)
  • Carlington (3)
  • Duchess of Harley (3)
  • Thomas Burdon (3)
  • Mr Erskine (also appears in the earlier short story The Portrait of Mr WH (1889) (3)
  • Mrs Vandeleur (3)
  • Lord Faudel (3)
  • Victoria Wotton (4, 19)
  • Sibyl Vane (4-10, 16, 18-19)
  • Mrs Vane (5)
  • Mr Isaacs (5)
  • James Vane (5, 16, 17, 18, 20)
  • Tom Hardy (5)
  • Ned Langton (5)
  • Duke of Berwick (5, 12)
  • Lord Radley (named after the location Radley) (6)
  • Victor (8, 10)
  • Lady Hampshire (named after the location Hampshire) (8)
  • Lady Gwendolen (9, 12)
  • Mrs Leaf (10, 20)
  • Mr Hubbard (10)
  • Lady Radley (named after the location Radley) (10, 12)
  • Mr Danby (10)
  • Dr Birrell (10)
  • Anthony Sherard (possibly named after the real/historical individual Robert Harborough Sherard) (11)
  • Elizabeth Devereux (11)
  • George Willoughby (11)
  • Lord Ferrars (named after the real/historical individual Lord Ferrars of Groby) (11)
  • Lord Beckenham (named after the real/historical location Beckenham) (11)
  • Lord Staveley (named after the location Staveley) (12)
  • Henry Ashton (12, 20)
  • Adrian Singleton (12, 14, 16)
  • Lord Kent (named after the location Kent) (12)
  • Duke of Perth (named after the location Perth) (12)
  • Lord Gloucester (named after the location Gloucester) (12)
  • Francis (13-14, 20)
  • Alan Campbell (13-14, 19-20)
  • Lady Berkshire (named after the location Berkshire) (14)
  • Harden (14)
  • Lady Narborough (named after the location Narborough, also appears in the later play Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)) (15, 17)
  • Ernest Harrowden (15)
  • Lady Roxton (15)
  • Mrs Erlynne (15)
  • Alice Chapman (15)
  • Adolphe (15)
  • Madame de Ferrol (15)
  • Sir Andrew (15)
  • Duke of Monmouth (named after the location Monmouth) (15, 17)
  • Lord Rugby (named after the location Rugby) (15)
  • Geoffrey Clouston (15, 18)
  • Lord Grotrian (15)
  • Mr Chapman (15)
  • Gladys, Duchess of Monmouth (named after the location Monmouth) (15, 17, 18, 19)
  • Lord Darlington (named after the location Darlington, also appears in Lady Windermere's Fan) (16)
  • George (16)
  • Lady Hilstone (17)
  • Thornton (18)
  • Hetty Merton (19, 20)
  • Lord Poole (named after the location Poole) (19)
  • Bournemouth (named after the location Bournemouth) (19)
  • Lady Branksome (19)

Textual variants (original edition)

The role of Mrs Leaf in the original edition of the novel published in July 1890, and her conversation with Dorian Gray, were significantly reduced for the revised edition of the novel that was first published in April 1891. Mr Ashton in the original edition of the novel was renamed Mr Hubbard for the revised edition of the novel.

Fictitious (other)

31 fictitous individuals, referred to by name in the novel, are not creations of Oscar Wilde. These individuals are listed in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text, alongside details of their provenance.

Textual variants (original manuscripts)

2 references to fictitious individuals not created by Oscar Wilde, in the original manuscripts of the novel, were excised for the original edition of the novel published in July 1890.
  • Sylvanus (figure in Roman mythology)
  • :The reference to Sylvanus was replaced with the reference to Hermes listed above
  • Venus (figure in Roman mythology)

Real/historical

104 real/historical individuals are referred to explicitly in the novel. These individuals are listed in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text, under the name by which they are most commonly known.

Textual variants (original manuscripts)

8 references to real/historical individuals, in the original manuscripts of the novel, were excised for the original edition of the novel published in July 1890.

Textual variants (original edition)

1 reference to a real/historical individual, in the original edition of the novel published in July 1890, was excised for the revised edition of the novel that was first published in April 1891.
  • Peter Schouvaloff

Creative works referred to in the novel

The number of each chapter of The Picture of Dorian Gray in which a creative work is referred to is given in parentheses alongside that work's title. These chapter numbers are specific to the revised edition of the novel first published in April 1891. Chapter numbers are listed only for chapters in which a creative work is referred to explicitly. For chapters in which individuals from particular creative works are referred to, see Individuals referred to in the novel, above.

Fictitious

2 fictitious creative works are referred to in the novel. These creative works are listed in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text.
  • The Idiot Boy, or Dumb but Innocent (play) (4)
  • Le Secret de Raoul (book by the fictitious individual Catulle Sarrazin) (10, 11)
  • :The title and author of this fictitious book are only given in Oscar Wilde's manuscripts of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The book and its author are still referred to in the published editions of the novel, but are unnamed.

Real/historical

16 real/historical creative works are referred to in the novel. These works are listed in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text. Where the work is explicitly quoted in the text, in addition to being referred to, this is indicated.

Textual variants (original manuscripts)

The original manuscripts of the novel contained a reference to an unnamed volume of sonnets by the real/historical individual Paul Verlaine. This was replaced with a reference maux et cames, by Thophile Gautier, for the original edition of the novel published in July 1890.

News publications/periodicals referred to in the novel

The number of each chapter of The Picture of Dorian Gray in which a news publication/periodical is referred to is given in parentheses. 6 news publications/periodicals are referred to in the novel.
  • The Times (3)
  • The Standard (8)
  • The Globe (9)
  • St James' Gazette (10)
  • Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (15)
  • Morning Post (15)

Film/television

Adaptations of the novel

At least 15 film/television adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray have either been released or are currently in production. These vary widely in their faithfulness to the original novel, with some versions updating the period in which the story is set, and some even altering the gender of the story's protagonists. These are listed in chronological order of release.
  • Dorian Grays Portrt (1910)
  • :Directed by Axel Strm
  • :Starring Valdemar Psilander as Dorian Gray
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1913)
  • :Directed by Phillips Smalley
  • :Starring Wallace Reid as Dorian Gray
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1916)
  • :Directed by Fred W Durrant; screenplay by Rowland Talbot
  • :Starring Henry Victor as Dorian Gray; Sydney Bland as Basil Hallward; Jack Jordan as Henry Wotton; Pat O'Malley as Sybil Vane
  • Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray (1917)
  • :Directed by Richard Oswald; screenplay by Richard Oswald
  • :Starring Bernd Aldor as Dorian Gray; Ernst Ludwig as Basil Hallward; Ernst Pittschau as Henry Wotton; Lea Lara as Sibyl Vane
  • Az let kirlya (1918)
  • :Directed by Alfrd Desy; screenplay by Jzsef Pakots
  • :Starring Norbert Dn as Dorian Gray; Gusztv Turn as Basil Hallward; Bela Lugosi (credited as Arisztid Olt) as Henry Wotton; Ila Lth as Sibyl Vane
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
  • :Directed by Albert Lewin; screenplay by Albert Lewin
  • :Starring Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray; Lowell Gilmore as Basil Hallward; George Sanders as Henry Wotton; Angela Lansbury as Sibyl Vane
  • Dorian Gray, also known as The Evils of Dorian Gray or The Secret of Dorian Gray (1970)
  • :Directed by Massimo Dallamano; screenplay by Marcello Coscia; Massimo Dallamano and Gnter Ebert
  • :Starring Helmut Berger as Dorian Gray; Richard Todd as Basil Hallward; Herbert Lom as Henry Wotton; Marie Liljedahl as Sybil Vane
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973)
  • :Directed by Glenn Jordan; screenplay by John Tomerlin
  • :Starring Shane Briant as Dorian Gray; Charles Aidman as Basil Hallward; Nigel Davenport as Henry Wotton; Vanessa Howard as Sybil Vane
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976)
  • :Directed by John Gorrie; screenplay by John Osborne
  • :Starring Peter Firth as Dorian Gray; Jeremy Brett as Basil Hallward; John Gielgud as Henry Wotton; Judi Bowker as Sibyl Vane
  • Le Portrait de Dorian Gray (1977)
  • :Directed by Pierre Boutron; screenplay by Pierre Boutron
  • :Starring Patrice Alexsandre as Dorian Gray; Denis Manuel as Basil Hallward; Raymond Grme as Henry Wotton; Marie-Hlne Breillat as Sybil
  • The Sins of Dorian Gray (1983)
  • :Directed by Tony Maylam; screenplay by Ken August and Peter Lawrence
  • :Starring Belinda Bauer as Dorian Gray; Anthony Perkins as Henry Wotton
  • Dorian, also known as Pact with the Devil (2001)
  • :Directed by Allan A Goldstein; screenplay by Peter Jobin and Ron Raley
  • :Starring Ethan Erickson as Dorian Gray; Malcolm McDowell as Henry Wotton; Amy Sloan as Sybil
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (2002)
  • :Directed by David Rosenbaum; screenplay by David Rosenbaum
  • :Starring Josh Duhamel as Dorian Gray; Rainer Judd as Basil Ward; Branden Waugh as Henry Wotton; Darby Stanchfield as Sybil Vane
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (2005)
  • :Directed by Duncan Roy; screenplay by Duncan Roy
  • Dorian Gray (2005)
  • :Directed by Mick Davis; screenplay by Mick Davis
  • :Starring Ryan Phillippe as Dorian Gray

Other references to the novel

  • "Rescue", episode of Blake's 7 (1981)
  • :Starring Geoffrey Burridge as Dorian
  • :Dorian, a fictitious individual inspired by Dorian Gray, is a central figure in this episode of the science fiction series Blake's 7. As in Oscar Wilde's novel, Dorian enjoys perpetual youth. The premise of the episode is that in order to sustain his youth, Dorian requires others to absorb his physical and mental defects.
  • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
  • :Directed by Stephen Norrington; screenplay by James Robinson
  • :Starring Stuart Townsend as Dorian Gray
  • :Dorian Gray appears in this film alongside several other individuals from 19th century fiction. The film is based upon a comic book series - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill - in which individuals from 19th century fiction also feature prominently. Dorian Gray, however, does not figure prominently in the comic book, and his role in the film is largely an invention of the filmmakers.

Other references

  • Dorian Gray was later reincarnated in "Dorian" by Will Self.
  • Dorian Gray was also re-done in a modern setting in a novel by Rick R. Reed titled "A Face Without a Heart" (Design Image Group Inc., 2000). The plot takes place in an amidst the gay club scene and a sophisticated hologram stands in for the painting.
  • The book was parodied in The Green Carnation by Stanley Hichen.

External links

Picture of Dorian Gray Picture Picture

 

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