The Picture of Dorian Gray: Encyclopedia II - The Picture of Dorian Gray - Themes

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Themes

Aestheticism and The Morality of Art: Wilde sets this as a major theme in the preface saying "We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless." This may have been said in defence of his novel against reports of its immorality. For instance, the Daily Chronicle characterized it as "...a poisonous book, the atmosphere of which is heavy with the mephitic odours of moral and spiritual putrefaction." Wilde also remarked in the preface "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."

Physiognomy: One of the central ideas in the novel is that beauty is marred by vice. Dorian remains beautiful despite his many sins because they take effect on Basil's portrait rather than him.

Pederasty and Homosexuality: The text contains many obscure references and terms, which are often considered to be euphemistic. Indeed, the novel was used as evidence in Wilde's infamous trial for "gross indecency" as evidence of his homosexuality. For example, it is suggested that the name Dorian is chosen as it is a reference to Greek love.

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