“The Picture of Dorian Gray” is a philosophical novel by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1890. The story revolves around Dorian Gray, a young man of great beauty and charm, who becomes the subject of a full-length portrait by the artist Basil Hallward. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian expresses a desire to sell his soul to ensure that the portrait ages and suffers the effects of time while he himself remains forever young and beautiful. Dorian’s wish comes true, and as he indulges in a hedonistic and immoral lifestyle, the portrait bears the signs of his corruption and decay.
The novel explores themes of morality, the consequences of one’s actions, the corrupting influence of a hedonistic lifestyle, and the duality of human nature. It was first published in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in the United States, and in an expurgated book form by Ward, Lock and Company in the United Kingdom in April 1891. The book version included six additional chapters and revisions to make the content more acceptable to Victorian sensibilities. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is celebrated for its witty dialogue, aestheticism, and its exploration of the darker aspects of human nature.
