A citation of Dorian Gray and other characters of the novel "Portrait of Dorian Gray" Oscar Wilde

Scandalous novel "Portrait of Dorian Gray", released from the pen of Oscar Wilde in 1890, remains relevant today. It is read, discussed and recommended. Today we will talk about the main characters and trace the changes with the help of the citation characteristic.

Prologue from Oscar Wilde

The author's words play an important role throughout the book. But the prologue helps the reader to understand that an unusual journey into the world of art, aesthetics and pleasures awaits him further. Ahead of the events, Wilde insists that "there are no books of moral or immoral, there are good or bad written - that's all." The attitude to art expressed by him, will be reflected in each character separately.

Citations of Dorian Gray

Arriving in London, the young Dorian Gray immediately began to join the high society, where he first met artist Basil Hollow, and then with Henry (Harry) Wotton, who actually formed his future destiny. The boy felt sincerity, innocence and chastity, he smiled a lot and did not worry about anything because of his inheritance, as the quotation character says. Dorian Gray did not at first attract the entertainment of high society, he did not think about vices.

Before getting to know Henry Wotton, the young man was well-mannered and dreamed of love, had his own, provincial (as Henry would say) outlook on life. When Wotton criticizes women for constantly demanding something from men, Dorian stands up for their defense and objects to him. In the opinion of an unspoiled (yet) young man, women are worthy of respect and have the full right to demand reciprocity, as they give men the best that they have - love.

Falling under the influence of the charismatic Harry, Dorian begins to change. Changes in it spoil everything clean, including the relationship with Sybil Wayne. The girl is killing herself, unable to stop loving him. The tragedy is that Dorian does not care, he does not consider himself responsible for what happened.

There comes a time when the young man starts to get tired of himself, and his speeches become very similar to the philosophy of Henry Wotton. Instead of the enamored young man who was looking for simple happiness, before us everything looks as young in appearance, but the other Dorian Gray: he insists that he was looking for only pleasures in life, but he never needed happiness.

Henry (Harry) Wotton: Character Characteristics

Henry Wotton is a family man, who, however, is unhappy in a marriage. Moving away from the reality of an unbearable, boring life, he professes only one religion, and this is hedonism. The main thing in life is not morals, but pleasure and beauty. "Your life - that's the most important thing," - this is his brief quotation characteristic. Dorian Gray immensely attracts the difference of Henry from the rest, his boldness and cynicism. It was Harry who became his guide to the world of pleasure.

Love does not exist, there is only a feeling and a desire, most people are in love only in the image of love - says Wotton to Dorian. And the young man, who was in love and believed in love, begins to grow stiff. The world would be better and much more joyful if each person could express each of his thoughts, every feeling that arises in him, thinks Harry, and Dorian begins to lead his life in accordance with this statement.

We can say that in the novel Henry Wotton is a theorist of hedonism, and Dorian Gray is a practitioner who decided to test his viability.

Portrait of Dorian Gray: citation characteristic of the artist Basil Holluord

Basil Holloword is an artist. He serves the art - and this reflects his citation characteristic. Dorian Gray, he met at a social reception, and they immediately became friends. The beauty of the young man - pure and innocent - shocked him to the depths of his soul. The portrait of Dorian turned out best of all that he painted until then.

"An artist should create beautiful works of art without introducing anything of his personal life into them," Basil says and violates this rule. He admits to Lord Henry that he has put too much himself into the portrait of Dorian Gray, and therefore will not be able to send him to any exhibition.

"It often occurs to me that art hides the artist much more than reveals it," Basil argues, but this is only a theory that has nothing to do with his work after his acquaintance with Dorian. It is to this character that most of the quotations refer to the art of the artist.

So, pleasure as the basis of life and the consequence of this choice - that's how Dorian Gray thinks. The citative characterization of the heroes of the novel makes it possible to add a definite opinion about them and the book. But still it is worth reading the book completely to understand its relevance in the modern world and to enjoy the imaginative, rich prose of Oscar Wilde.