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Dorian Gray is the main character of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. In the novel Gray's portrait ages, while Gray himself appears to remain perpetually youthful.

Dorian Gray is described as an extremely handsome individual whose innocence and good looks are the definition of his personality. Lord Henry Wotton's thoughts of Dorian as he first lays eyes on him express this clearly "...he was certainly wonderfully handsome, with his finely-curved scarlet lips, his frank blue eyes, his crisp gold hair. There was something in his face that made one trust him at once. All the candour of youth was there, as well as all youth's passionate purity. One felt that he had kept himself unspotted from the world."

Template:Spoiler Until Dorian meets Lord Henry, he does not think much about anything, especially his own life and his good looks. Lord Henry convinces Dorian that his looks are in fact his most important virtue and at the same time Lord Henry reminds Dorian that his looks will disappear as he grows older. Dorian takes this conversation very seriously and becomes aware and extremely worried about the fact that his youth is not eternal.

When Dorian sees the finished portrait Basil had painted of him. "...I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June.... If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that — for that — I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!" (pg. 31) By saying that Dorian sells his soul, much like the title character in Goethe's famous play Faust. His desire for eternal youth soon comes true and the image in the picture ages instead of him.

Possessing his desired youth, Dorian's personality begins to change drastically, all due to his relationship with Lord Henry. Dorian's metamorphosis is revealed the night he tells Sybil Vane, an actress with whom he is in love, that his love for her died simply due to her terrible performance as Juliet that evening.

The further death of his innocence transpires as he enagged in a hedonistic lifestyle, like Lord Henry. He completely transforms himself into a different person and his personality changes. When Basil sees him again he cannot believe that it is the same Dorian he used to paint and immediately begins to try to help Dorian heal himself. Dorian becomes fully corrupt when he then murders Basil. With that act Dorian discards all hope of being saved and chooses to continue his corrupt lifestyle.

Although Dorian does not physically age, and his sins are not apparent on his face (it is Oscar Wilde's intent to show that the face of a person directly reflects his personality), they are all fully expressed on the face of the portrait. This makes Dorian aware of how terrible his life really is, but he does not share his secret with others.

At the very end of the novel, Dorian realizes how wrong he was to have followed the path set for him by Lord Henry, saying to him "Harry, I have done too many dreadful things in my life. I am not going to do any more." Indeed, Dorian desperately tries to change his lifestyle but, after all the terrible things he's done, it is too late. His attempts at reform are selfish and superficial and ultimately only make the portait more hideous.

In the end, Dorian decides to kill his sins and his past by destroying the portrait, but in doing so he kills himself instead. The last sentence in the novel describes the finding of his body near the portrait "When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was."

Dorian Gray in popular culture

Dorian Gray also makes an appearance in the film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which is a film specifically about many famous literary characters going on an adventure. He is played by Stuart Townsend. In this incarnation, his 'curse' was altered somewhat; his painting now also took for him the physical damage he may sustain, making him virtually immortal, unless he is forced to look upon the portrait, whereupon his 'curse' would be broken and all the physical deformities from sin, age, and physical damage that had been absorbed by the painting throughout the years would be thrust back on him, killing him instantly. Because of this, he hid the painting not only from others, but himself, as well, so that he could continue to use the 'curse' to his benefit.

A number of movie adaptations have been made of the book itself, most notably the 1945 version with Hurd Hatfield in the title role, which won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. The grotesque portrait shown in the film is an original by noted artist Ivan Albright.

Dorian Gray was also the stage name of a 1960s UK pop singer. His only hit was "'I've Got You on My Mind".

The Detritus of Dorian Gray appeared in a book of poems written by Kevin Max. The book was also called "The Detritus of Dorian Gray".

"Dorian" is the name of a song based on the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by the power metal group Demons and Wizards. It appears on their sophomore album Touched by the Crimson King.

In 1980, U2's song "The Ocean" from their first album opens with the line "A picture in grey, Dorian Gray"

"Dorian Gray" is mentioned in James Blunt's song titled "Tears and Rain", from the 2004 Album "Back to Bedlam" : "I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain, All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble. Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray.".

The Australian rock band The Church also sarcastically praises the subject of it's 1990 single "You're Still Beautiful" as "the walking picture of Dorian Gray."

The character "Dorian Gray" is also mentioned in a song by the British band "The Libertines" in the song "Narcissist." The lyrics include "Well wouldn't it be nice to be Dorian Gray? Just for a day" and "Oh, what's so great to be Dorian Gray every day?" The track is on the band's second album, titled "The Libertines."

"Dorian Gray" is mentioned in Liz Phair's song titled "H.W.C.": "Without you I'm just another Dorian Gray...".

Another reference to "Dorian Grey" can be found in the song "Jigsaw" by Shadowland, which can be found on their "Ring of Roses" album: "Could I borrow more time, remember Dorian Grey, But would I be prepared to pay, the price I know I'd have to pay".

"Dorian Gray" is the name of a song from the 2004 album "Grasping For Hope In The Darkness" by Canadian Catholic Rock band, Critical Mass.

"Dorian Gray" is spoken of through the lyrics of James Blunt in the song "Tears and Rain" in his 2005 albumn "Back to Bedlam" It reads: "All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble. Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray."

• Characters in written fiction
• Literature villains
• Film villains