Character Analysis

The novel features a cast of complex characters, each representing different aspects of Victorian society and Wilde's philosophical ideas.

Dorian Gray:

• Protagonist and titular character
• Young, exceptionally beautiful aristocrat
• Initially innocent but becomes increasingly corrupt
• Embodies the conflict between aestheticism and morality

Quote: "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young... If it were only the other way!"

Lord Henry Wotton:

• Cynical, witty aristocrat
• Serves as a corrupting influence on Dorian
• Espouses hedonistic philosophy and social criticism
• Represents the dandy figure in Victorian literature

Basil Hallward:

• Talented, sensitive artist
• Creates the fateful portrait of Dorian
• Harbors a deep, possibly homoerotic admiration for Dorian
• Symbolizes the pure artistic temperament

Highlight: The analisi psicologica or psychological analysis of Dorian Gray reveals a character torn between his innate goodness and acquired depravity.

Supporting characters:

• Sibyl Vane: Young actress who falls in love with Dorian
• James Vane: Sibyl's protective brother
• Alan Campbell: Scientist and former friend of Dorian
• Lady Narborough: Socialite who represents Victorian high society

The interactions between these characters drive the narrative and illuminate the novel's central themes.

Narrative Style and Techniques

Oscar Wilde employs a variety of narrative techniques in The Picture of Dorian Gray to create a rich, multi-layered text.

Narrative perspective:

• Third-person omniscient narrator
• Allows insight into multiple characters' thoughts and motivations
• Creates dramatic irony as readers know more than individual characters

Example: The narrator reveals Basil's private thoughts about Dorian, which he never openly expresses to others.

Language and style:

• Ornate, poetic prose reflecting aesthetic ideals
• Witty epigrams and paradoxes, especially in Lord Henry's dialogue
• Vivid, sensory descriptions of settings and characters
• Use of symbolism and allegory

Vocabulary: An epigram is a concise, clever, and often paradoxical statement.

Structure:

• Chronological narrative with some time jumps
• Framed by the creation and destruction of the portrait
• Alternates between dialogue-heavy scenes and introspective passages

Highlight: The stile e tecniche narrative or narrative style and techniques of Il ritratto di Dorian Gray showcase Wilde's mastery of language and storytelling.

Wilde's narrative approach serves to both entertain readers and convey his philosophical ideas about art, beauty, and morality.

Themes and Symbolism

The Picture of Dorian Gray is rich in thematic content and symbolic imagery, exploring complex philosophical and social ideas.

Major themes:

1. The nature of beauty and art

   • Questioning the relationship between physical and moral beauty
   • Exploring the purpose and impact of art on life

2. The pursuit of pleasure and its consequences

   • Examining hedonism and its moral implications
   • Contrasting momentary pleasure with lasting fulfillment

3. The duality of human nature

   • Highlighting the conflict between public persona and private self
   • Exploring the capacity for both good and evil within individuals

4. The corruption of innocence

   • Tracing Dorian's transformation from naïve youth to jaded hedonist
   • Examining the influence of society and individuals on moral development

Highlight: The significato allegorico or allegorical meaning of Il ritratto di Dorian Gray lies in its exploration of the soul's corruption through the pursuit of pleasure and beauty.

Key symbols:

• The portrait: Represents Dorian's soul and the consequences of his actions
• The yellow book: Symbolizes decadent literature and corrupting influences
• The opium dens: Represent escape and moral degradation
• The garden: Symbolizes innocence and temptation, echoing the Biblical Eden

Example: As Dorian's actions become more immoral, the portrait grows increasingly grotesque, while he maintains his youthful appearance.

These themes and symbols contribute to the novel's enduring relevance and interpretative richness.

Literary Influences and Legacy

The Picture of Dorian Gray draws on various literary traditions and has, in turn, influenced subsequent works of literature and popular culture.

Literary influences:

• Gothic fiction: Elements of horror and the supernatural
• French decadent literature: Especially Joris-Karl Huysmans' "À rebours"
• Faust legend: Theme of selling one's soul for earthly pleasures
• Shakespeare: References and allusions throughout the text

Example: The yellow book that corrupts Dorian is likely based on Huysmans' "À rebours," known in English as "Against Nature."

Philosophical influences:

• Walter Pater's aestheticism
• Nietzsche's ideas on morality and the Übermensch
• Schopenhauer's philosophy of will and representation

Legacy and adaptations:

• Numerous film, television, and stage adaptations
• Influence on later works exploring themes of immortality and moral decay
• Continued relevance in discussions of art, ethics, and identity

Highlight: The enduring popularity of Il ritratto di Dorian Gray is evident in its many adaptations and its continued study in literature courses worldwide.

Critical reception:

• Initially controversial for its perceived immorality
• Now recognized as a classic of Gothic fiction and aesthetic literature
• Studied for its philosophical depth and stylistic brilliance

The novel's exploration of timeless themes ensures its ongoing significance in literature and popular culture.

Analysis of Key Passages

Several pivotal scenes and passages in The Picture of Dorian Gray encapsulate the novel's central themes and showcase Wilde's literary prowess.

1. Dorian's wish (Chapter 2):

   Quote: "How sad it is!" murmured Dorian Gray with his eyes still fixed upon his own portrait. "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June.... If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that—for that—I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!"

   This passage introduces the central conceit of the novel and highlights Dorian's fatal flaw: his obsession with youth and beauty.

2. Lord Henry's hedonistic philosophy (Chapter 2):

   Quote: "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful."

   This statement encapsulates Lord Henry's corrupting influence and the novel's exploration of pleasure and morality.

3. The changing portrait (Chapter 7):

   Quote: "The picture had not changed. It was as he remembered it. There was no doubt that the whole expression had altered. It looked different. One would have said that there was a touch of cruelty in the mouth. It was certainly strange."

   This scene marks the beginning of the portrait's transformation, reflecting Dorian's moral decay.

Highlight: These key passages demonstrate the analisi or analysis of Il ritratto di Dorian Gray's central themes of beauty, corruption, and the nature of the soul.

4. Dorian's moment of potential redemption (Chapter 20):

   Quote: "As he thought of Hetty Merton, he began to wonder if the portrait in the locked room had changed. Surely it was not still so horrible as it had been? Perhaps if his life became pure, he would be able to expel every sign of evil passion from the face. Perhaps the signs of evil had already gone away. He would go and look."

   This passage shows Dorian's brief consideration of redemption, ultimately rejected in favor of continued hedonism.

5. The novel's conclusion (Chapter 20):

   Quote: "When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was."

   The final scene brings the novel's themes full circle, showing the ultimate consequences of Dorian's choices.

These passages highlight Wilde's skill in weaving together philosophical ideas, vivid imagery, and compelling narrative.