The plot in six lines
Basil Hallward paints Dorian Gray's portrait, while Lord Henry Wotton's talk about youth makes Dorian wish that the portrait would grow old instead of him.
Dorian cruelly rejects the actress Sibyl Vane after a poor performance, and she takes her own life; the portrait shows its first sign of cruelty.
Years of pleasure follow under Lord Henry's influence and the influence of the yellow book, while Dorian's face stays young and the hidden portrait decays.
Basil confronts Dorian about the rumours surrounding Dorian's life, and Dorian shows Basil the decaying portrait before murdering the painter.
Dorian forces the chemist Alan Campbell to destroy Basil's body, concealing the evidence of the murder; Alan Campbell later shoots himself.
James Vane, Sibyl's brother, hunts Dorian and is killed accidentally during a hunt; Dorian stabs the portrait to destroy it and dies, leaving the painting restored and his own body old and disfigured.
Themes
Appearance and reality: Dorian's unchanged beauty protects his reputation while the hidden portrait reveals the moral cost of his actions.
Pleasure and conscience: Dorian's pursuit of sensation shows how pleasure can replace conscience when the consequences of wrongdoing seem safely hidden.
Influence and responsibility: Lord Henry offers seductive ideas rather than commands, leaving readers to weigh his influence against Dorian's responsibility for his choices.
Art and life: Basil's portrait shapes Dorian's life, while Dorian's love for Sibyl depends on her art rather than her person.
Secrecy: The locked room turns Dorian's hidden self into a physical space, separating his public beauty from his private knowledge.
Characters
- Dorian GrayA young man of remarkable beauty and innocence who wishes to stay young forever and is drawn into a life of pleasure.
- Basil HallwardA painter who adores Dorian's beauty, paints his portrait, and hopes to keep his friend good.
- Lord Henry WottonA witty aristocrat who talks lightly about pleasure and youth and takes delight in shaping Dorian's views.
- Sibyl VaneA young actress in a small London theatre who plays Shakespeare's heroines and falls deeply in love with Dorian.
For the A level English Literature exams, summer 2027
- The summer 2027 A level exams run from 10 May to 22 June 2027.
- Pearson Edexcel: Paper 2 (9ET0/02), Prose (The Supernatural), Thursday 20 May 2027, morning, 1 hour 15 minutes.
- OCR: suggested text for the comparative study (The Gothic), Paper 2 (H472/02), Thursday 20 May 2027, morning, 2 hours 30 minutes.
A two-week plan
- Day oneRead the 15-minute summary of The Picture of Dorian Gray from start to finish, then tell the story back to yourself in five sentences.
- Days two to threeA painter finds his perfect subject: Notice how Basil's attachment to the portrait makes painting an expression of feeling rather than simple likeness.
- Day fourLord Henry plants a dangerous wish: Watch how Lord Henry turns Dorian's beauty from an innocent possession into a source of fear.
- Day fiveThe portrait begins to change: Notice the difference between loving Sibyl as a person and admiring the roles she performs.
- Day sixPleasure takes the place of conscience: Follow the contrast between Dorian's public appearance and his private fascination with the changing portrait.
- Day sevenWhat the story is really about: Consider how Lord Henry's distance from consequences complicates the balance between influence and personal responsibility.
- Day eightHow Wilde tells it: Watch how witty dialogue, recurring symbols and a darkening tone work together to unsettle Lord Henry's attractive ideas.
- Day nineThe cast: Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton and Sibyl Vane. Write one line on what each of them wants.
- Day tenThemes: Appearance and reality; Pleasure and conscience; Influence and responsibility; Art and life; Secrecy. Pick one moment in the story for each.
- Day elevenForm: study how the story is told: the narrator, the order of events and the settings.
- Day twelvePractice: plan and write an essay on one theme, then read your argument back and test it against the story.
- Day thirteenPractice: try a second question with a different focus, such as a character or the form.
- Day fourteenRecap: reread your notes and the summary, say the plot out loud once, then rest.
From the boards' published specifications and final summer 2027 timetables, read on 23 October 2026. Ask your school which board and papers you sit.
Questions
What is The Picture of Dorian Gray about?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a young man whose portrait bears the changes that his own face escapes. His pursuit of pleasure tests whether beauty can conceal guilt and whether unseen wrongdoing still carries a cost.
Who are the main characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The main characters are Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton and Sibyl Vane. Dorian is the beautiful young subject of Basil's portrait, while Lord Henry shapes his views about youth and pleasure. Sibyl is an actress whom Dorian loves for her performances.
What are the main themes of The Picture of Dorian Gray?
The main themes are appearance and reality, pleasure, conscience, influence, and the relationship between art and life. The portrait exposes what Dorian's beauty hides, while Lord Henry's ideas raise questions about responsibility for another person's choices.
Is The Picture of Dorian Gray a set text for A level English Literature?
Yes. Pearson Edexcel lists it in Paper 2 (9ET0/02), Prose (The Supernatural). OCR names it as a suggested text for the comparative study (The Gothic): Paper 2 (H472/02).
When are the A level English Literature exams in 2027?
The summer 2027 A level exams run from 10 May to 22 June 2027. Pearson Edexcel: Paper 2 (9ET0/02), Thursday 20 May 2027, morning. OCR: Paper 2 (H472/02), Thursday 20 May 2027, morning.
