The Picture of Dorian Gray

Wilde drew inspiration for this tale from an 1884 visit to an eccentric artist,as well as from the legends of Narcissus and Faust. The resulting novella is anenthralling character study that blends a discussion of the merits of artwith that brand of parodying critique of Victorian society for which Wildewould become famous. In the process, The Picture of Dorian Gray examinesthe moral implications of valuing physical beauty over all else.