The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, 1890
Basil Hallward, an accomplished painter, meets Dorian Gray and is so captivated by the young man that he asks Dorian to sit for him. During one session, Dorian meets Lord Henry and takes a liking to him. After listening to Lord Henry for several months claim that youth and beauty are the only things worth having, Dorian Gray becomes obsessed with his own youth and sells his soul – and the picture takes on his mortal sins while Dorian remains physically untouched. But just because one’s sins don’t show on their skin doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is arguably Oscar Wilde’s most well known work. It tells the ancient story of Narcissus and delves into the darkest parts of us all. This novel shows that obsession and hedonism are not fulfilling endeavors – that we are all mortal and our mortality is worth fighting for.
In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde beautifully defines our fear of the unknown, the fear of aging, and ultimately, the fear of death. Oscar Wilde once wrote, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry is what the world thinks me: Dorian Gray what I would like to be – in other ages, perhaps.”
The Picture of Dorian Gray ends up being the death of Basil, Dorian, and Oscar Wilde – which begs the question: would Oscar Wilde have written it if he’d known it would ultimately lead to his own imprisonment and untimely death?
The unmatched beauty of Oscar Wilde’s words and this riveting tale of morality and vanity makes The Picture of Dorian Gray #____ on the Horror list
