The Picture of Dorian Gray Flashcards
Characters (11 cards)
Major Plot Elements
Main conflict: Dorian Gray struggles with the consequences of his wish to remain eternally youthful while his portrait ages and records his moral corruption.
Main events: Dorian’s descent into hedonism, the corruption of his soul, the deaths of those around him (including Basil and Sibyl), and his increasing paranoia and guilt.
Outcome/ending: Dorian attempts to destroy the portrait, but in doing so, he kills himself. The portrait returns to its original beauty, while Dorian’s body becomes withered and aged.
Themes
The Superficiality of Beauty: The novel critiques society’s obsession with youth and appearance, showing the moral decay that can accompany such values.
The Duality of Human Nature: Dorian’s external beauty hides his internal corruption, exploring the conflict between outward appearance and inner reality.
Symbols
The Portrait: Represents Dorian’s soul and the consequences of his actions, bearing the marks of his sins.
The Yellow Book: Given to Dorian by Lord Henry, it symbolizes the corrupting influence of art and ideas.
Point of View
Third-person omniscient, primarily focused on Dorian but also providing insight into other characters’ thoughts and motivations.
Characters
Dorian Gray
Basil Hallward
Lord Henry Wotton
Alan Campbell
Sibyl Vane
James Vane
Dorian Gray
- Handsome, youthful, impressionable, vain
- Obsessed with beauty and eternal youth
- Easily influenced by Lord Henry’s hedonism
- Self-indulgent, morally corrupt, ultimately tragic
- Guilt-ridden, haunted by his portrait’s decay
Basil Hallward
- Sensitive, moral, devoted artist
- Deeply admires and is inspired by Dorian’s beauty
- Cautious, sincere, idealistic, compassionate
- Becomes estranged from Dorian as he declines morally
- Victim of Dorian’s violence; represents conscience and artistry
Lord Henry Wotton
- Witty, cynical, decadent aristocrat
- Charismatic, manipulative, philosophical
- Advocate of hedonism and self-indulgence
- Corrupting influence on Dorian, indifferent to consequences
- Represents aestheticism and moral detachment
Alan Campbell
- Intelligent, accomplished chemist
- Former friend of Dorian, becomes distant
- Reluctant, guilt-ridden, coerced into crime by Dorian
- Emotionally tormented, ultimately commits suicide
Sibyl Vane
- Young, talented, idealistic actress
- Innocent, romantic, passionate
- Falls deeply in love with Dorian (“Prince Charming”)
- Heartbroken by Dorian’s cruelty, dies by suicide
- Symbol of lost innocence and the destructiveness of vanity
James Vane
- Protective, determined, vengeful brother of Sibyl
- Single-minded, loyal, driven by a sense of justice
- Seeks revenge on Dorian for Sibyl’s death
- Ultimately killed accidentally while pursuing Dorian
