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Chapter 1. Basil Hallward entertains his friend Lord Henry Wotton, showing him a portrait he has recently painted of a young man named Dorian Gray. Henry tells Basil it’s his best work, but Basil doesn’t want to exhibit the piece—it’s far too personal.
Overview. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, published in 1890, stands as a classic exploration of morality and the consequences of unchecked desires. Set in late 19th-century London, the novel follows the life of Dorian Gray, a young man enthralled by the hedonistic ideals of of a man called Lord Henry.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is, at bottom, a novel of surfaces and appearance. We say ‘at bottom’, but that is precisely the point: the novel is, as many critics have commented, all surface. Lord Henry is so taken by the beauty of Dorian Gray that he sets about being a bad influence on him.
The Picture of Dorian Gray Summary. Dorian Gray meets Lord Henry Wotton at the studio of Basil Hallward, who is using Dorian as a model for his latest painting. Lord Henry tells Dorian about his epicurean views on life, and convinces him of the value of beauty above all other things.
Setting: Late nineteenth century in London, England. Main Characters: Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, Sibyl Vane. Protagonist: Dorian Gray. Antagonist: Dorian Gray; James Vane. Major Thematic Elements: Art’s purpose; youth and beauty as vehicles of influence; superficiality of society; the dangers of social influence.
Plot. Summary & Analysis. Themes. Quotes. Characters. Symbols. Lit Devices. Quizzes. Theme Viz. Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Picture of Dorian Gray makes teaching easy. Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions. Get instant explanations to your questions about anything we cover. Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
The story revolves around a portrait of Dorian Gray painted by Basil Hallward, a friend of Dorian's and an artist infatuated with Dorian's beauty. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton and is soon enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life.
