In Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, a handsome, young aristocrat inspires his friend Basil, a renowned artist, to paint his portrait. Once finished, the painting’s charm induces Dorian to make a fateful wish to stay forever young and beautiful while his picture ages, bearing the physical symbols of his wrongdoing. As Dorian grows corrupt, the portrait becomes sinister and ugly while his sordid acts leave his face unchanged.
    The story, amidst clever dialogue and detailed descriptions of wealth and art, poses questions of morality. Can one really live a life so filled with corruption as Dorian’s while escaping any punishment? Wilde’s prose, often filled with allusions to history, mythology, and Victorian culture, paints a vivid picture of a hedonistic man engaged in a life of immorality. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a thought provoking and entertaining depiction of friendship and love that forces us to question the nature of our souls.

Reviewed by Lindsay I.