There’s something inevitable about The Picture of Dorian Gray.

What is at once so unique and iconic about Dorian’s downfall has a sense of timelessness in its articulation. Every component enamours a reader: a beautiful boy willingly corrupted, a wise gentleman obsessed with aesthetics over substance, an idealistic artist that ultimately pays the price for his creation. It’s plain to see why generations of readers have fallen in love with this story over and over again.

Note: this discussion of Dorian Gray contains spoilers! If you have not read the book please don’t spoil it for yourself!

The question of influence runs through The Picture of Dorian Gray.  

Dorian pins his downfall on his Narcissus-esque obsession with his portrait. Basil Hallward dedicates his artistic prowess to Dorian’s influence over him. Lord Henry is enthralled with the “exercise of [his] influence” over Dorian from their first meeting. Dorian blames his hedonistic self-destruction on a book. Poor Alan Campbell felt “dominated” by Dorian to the extent of committing atrocities.

In fact, the only character in The Picture of Dorian Gray that owns their actions is Lord Henry. Love him or hate him, you’ve got to give him that.

“As for being poisoned by a book, there is no such thing as that. Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its shame.” (p.208)

It would be too simple to liken Dorian to a blank canvas upon which Lord Henry can paint as he likes. Lord Henry’s influence is something more fluid. Lord Henry sought to “dominate” Dorian immediately. It was something more than an impulse, Lord Henry sought “make [Dorian’s] wonderful spirit his own”.

Instantly, Dorian embraces Lord Henry’s countless (contradictory) ideologies and esthetics. Henry’s words, littered with “wilful paradox… touched some secret chord” that had never been ” in Dorian, and left him entranced and enthralled. But it is Dorian’s own curiosity, hedonism and arrogance that motivates his continued moral decline.

“Dorian, you will always be fond of me. I represent to you all of the sins you have never had the courage to commit” (p.90)

Unwittingly, Lord Henry acts as a coach to Dorian’s moral undoing. While Henry boasts hedonism as the chief pursuit of importance in life, what I’m sure is more likely is that he adores the idea of hedonism far more than Dorian’s extremes.

“All crime is vulgar, just as all vulgarity is crime. It is not in you, Dorian, to commit a murder.” (p.236)

Lord Henry’s “wilful paradoxes” act like cigarette smoke on Dorian’s mind. Carelessly blown into the face of youth and inhaled. Clinging to his clothes and hair, and staining the room over time. What Lord Henry didn’t anticipate is that rather than washing out the smoke, Dorian snatched the carton, smoked 20 a day, and ended up addicted to this “perfect type of perfect pleasure” – ever unsatisfied and lethargic of his tight chest.

Dorian becomes Lord Henry’s aesthetic ideal and his malady is the toll of his soul’s corruption.

“It seemed to me to have lost something. It has lost an ideal. When you and he ceased to be great friends, he ceased to be a great painter” (p.237)

In his final moments, Dorian finally reflects that “it has given him pleasure to watch [the painting] changing and growing old. Of late he felt no pleasure. It kept him awake at night… it has been like conscience to him.” Where lethargy was bearable, consequence was intolerable for Dorian.

“[He] would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free. It would kill his monstrous soul-life, without its hideous warnings, he would be at peace” (p.247)

What do you think of Dorian’s fate? Was there a point of no return? Could Dorian have redeemed himself? Do you think the stoy could have played out any differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

We picked The Picture of Dorian Gray as our first book club pick, and what a book it is.Here are just some of the comments on our Dubai book club from our lovely Instagram community:

“I’m genuinely glad the introvert in me didn’t take over and cancel last minute … I freakin’ loved it” (@thiscitythatbook)

“Slow reader here! … I’d love to join!” – (@erikavsbooks)

Join us on Thursday 19th June at 7:30pm, at NOLA (JLT) Dubai.