... "The artist is the creator of beautiful things." (p 41) . Ironically, in the novel which follows, Wilde does not follow his own guideline, contradicting his own statement. The events which occur as a result of an expression of art, display that an artist is not only capable of creating beauty, but also of creating ugliness and evil. Basil Hallward is an artist who paints a portrait of the young and beautiful Dorian Gray. At first, the piece is wonderful, displaying the young mans ... the novel, it is stated referring to Dorian, that "Youth had spoiled him." (p 245), proving that the eff...

• Word Count: 486
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

The Picture of Dorian Gray Summary of novel: Dorian Gray, the beautiful, talented, charming young man, has managed to capture the hearts of both men and women alike during nineteenth-century England. His incredible purity has attracted Lord Henry Wotton, who vies for his attention with Basil Hallward, a trusting and gentle artist. Basil, having poured his soul into a wonderful portrait of Dorian, resents the recent closeness between Lord Henry and the boy. The portrait that Basil ... terms of realism as opposed to the neoclassical ideals. The novel, in Wilde's typical Aesthetic style, focuses...

• Word Count: 784
• Approx Pages: 3

... It is this portrait, which Basil refuses to display that provided Dorian with the notion that his actions are of no consequence. Dorian soon realizes after the death of Sybil Vane that his wish had come true. As result of this Dorian murders Basil when he discovers the secret behind the aging painting. It is the artist that is killed for his excessive love of physical beauty. The same piece of art that Dorian ... wished to merge with that is cause of the artist's demise. When Dorian received the beautiful painting of himself from Basil, it is quite evident that Dorian became completely ...

• Word Count: 949
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School