It is quite evident from reading the novel that one of the most important symbols is the picture of Dorian Gray. It is the symbol of an evil soul and dirty conscience, however it is also the title itself. It is the bargain in which Dorian has sold his soul to the Devil. “If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old . . . I would give my soul for that” (31)! He makes a wish to trade places with the portrait in order to remain young forever, and the film has done a great job in emphasizing the importance of the portrait by illuminating it

in color, while the film is in black and white. Not only does the picture stands out, but also it emphasizes what Dorian feels as he looks into the picture and realizes he is incredibly young and beautiful. It is in color, separating it from the black and white world, which portrays the picture as some higher power. This keeps the reader aware of the about the portraits importance in the film.

In the novel it is known the Sibyl Vane calls Dorian her price charming. This emphasizes that Dorian’s pretty face and charm are quite deceiving since the reader is aware of his evil soul. “You look more like a prince. I must call you Price Charming” (61). Sibyl is influenced by his charm into believing that he will save her and remove her from her poverty and misery. Although the name is altered in the film to Tristan, it still sends the message of Dorian as a strong and heroic character. Sadly, the viewer as well as the reader are aware that Dorian is no prince charming or tristan at all, and will only ruin the lives of many. Even though the name was changed the outside image given to Dorian is still being portrayed. His beauty and innocence serves as a symbol of bourgeois hypocrisy in both the film and the novel.

Considering that the voice of the author, which is detected with ease in a novel, cannot be detected in a film, the film does a great job in integrating some of Oscar Wilde’s important quotes into the film. The preface in the novel it a very important part that allows the reader to connect the authors thoughts with the message in the novel. “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” (4). Nonetheless, in the film this is changed into a book of quotes and thoughts from Oscar Wilde that Dorian keeps in his den. Dorian finds these words to be inspirational, as he once reads them to his loved Sibyl allowing a rush of evil to take control over his body. Although they are words from the author, the words seem to have a dark meaning and a message that Sibyl finds rather strange. This allows the viewer of the film, to be introduced to the character of the author without having to read these quoted passages.

The 1945 film of The Picture of Dorian Gray, was a good success for its taste in horror and suspense. However, like in every novel turned into film, things were altered. Some being to better fit

Some topics in this essay:
Dorian Gray, Wilde Dorian, Price Charming”, Oscar Wilde’s, Lord Henry, Oscar Wilde, Dorian Dorian’s, Lastly Sibyl, Sibyl Vane, dorian gray, Romeo Juliet, novel film, picture dorian gray, picture dorian, oscar wilde, reader aware, 1945 film, novel film failures, throughout novel, acting career, dislike sibyl, film novel, 1945 film picture, film picture dorian,