The Picture Of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition by Oscar Wilde edited by Nicholas Frankel (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press) ISBN: 978-0-674-05792-0

Plot Summary

Basil Hallward smitten by the attractive Dorian Gray paints his masterpiece: Gray's portrait.  While sitting for the painting Gray is introduced to Hallward's friend Lord Henry Wotton who espouses decadent ideals concerning all topics (he sees altruism, duty, and selflessness as vices).  Lord Henry stirs some unusual feeling in Gray.  When Gray sees Hallward's portrait, he wishes that he could remain forever young and the portrait would age in his place.  His prayer is answered.  After he jilts his first love Sibyl Vain, the portrait shows mars, and Gray hides the portrait in an attic room.  Under the tutelage of Wotton, Gray leads an increasingly decadent life and the portrait becomes more hideous.

Critical Evaluation

The annotated, uncensored edition presents Wilde's original manuscript.  It was quite heavily edited for publication to obscure some of its gay themes.  It also provides a series of annotations that really help provide context for the work.  While the book could be read as a simple morality tale, the context of Wilde's life and imprisonment for his gay lifestyle really complicate the issues and make a reader ponder just what Wilde's purpose was: was it condemnation of decadence or a critique of a society that forces its citizens to live double lives.  The annotations do often seem written for the academic reader, though, and some spoil the story's ending.

Reader’s Annotation

Dorian Gray is beautiful and he seems not to age, but in his attic a mysterious portrait of him seems to bear all of the effects of time that he does not.

Information about the author

From the Oscar Wilde Society (reproduced from numerous sources, including primarily Merlin Holland's Oscar Wilde: A Life In Letters): 

1854:    Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde born in Dublin  

1864-71: Studies at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen  

1871:    Begins studying Classics at Trinity College, Dublin  

1874:    Begins studying Classics at Magdalen College, Oxford 

1878:    Wins Newdigate Prize for his poem 'Ravenna', takes BA degree 

1879:    Settles in London 

1881:    First edition of his Poems published  

1882:    Lectures in the USA and Canada all year 

1883:    Writes The Duchess of Padua  

1884:    Marries Constance Lloyd after 6 month engagement, settles in Chelsea (London) 

1885: First son, Cyril, is born; Wilde writes reviews for the Pall Mall Gazette  

1886: Second son, Vyvyan, is born 

1887: Becomes editor of The Woman's World; 'The Canterville Ghost', 'The Sphinx Without a Secret', 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crimes', and 'The Model Millionaire' are published  

1888: 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales' is published 

1889: 'The Decay of Lying', 'Pen, Pencil and Poison', 'The Birthday of the Infanta', and 'The Portrait of Mr. W. H.' are published; Wilde gives up editorship of Woman's World 

1890:    First version of The Picture of Dorian Graypublished in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. 'The Critic as Artist' published 

1891: 'The Soul of Man under Socialism', 'Intentions', and 'A House of Pomegranates' are published; Wilde meets Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie); writes Salome in Paris  

1892:    Lady Windermere's Fan produced at St. James's Theatre; Salome is denied a licence for performance; Wilde writes A Woman of No Importance  

1893: Salome is published in French; A Woman of No Importance is produced at Haymarket Theatre; writes An Ideal Husband; Lady Windermere's Fan is published 

1894: Salome published in English translation; The Sphinx published; and A Woman of No Importance published  

1895: An Ideal Husband produced at Haymarket Theatre; The Importance of Being Earnest produced at St. James's Theatre. Wilde finds Marquess of Queensberry's card at Albermarle Club; obtains warrant for Queensberry's arrest on a charge of criminal libel ; Queensberry goes on trial and is acquitted; Wilde is arrested, charged with gross indecency, convicted, and sentenced to two years' hard labour. Imprisoned at Pentonville, transferred to Wandsworth and finally to Reading Gaol. In November declared bankrupt.  

1896: Death of his mother, Lady Wilde; Salome is produced in Paris  

1897: Writes De Profundis ; is released from prison, adopts the name Sebastian Melmoth, settles first in France at Berneval; later joins Lord Alfred Douglas in Naples  

1898: Moves to Paris, The Ballad of Reading Gaol is published; death of his wife, Constance  

1899: The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband are published; Wilde moves into the Hotel d'Alsace in Paris 

1900: Undergoes ear operation in hotel room; is baptized a Roman Catholic and on 30 November dies of cerebral meningitis; buried in Bagneux Cemetery  

1906: Wilde's estate is discharged from bankruptcy  

1909: Wilde's remains are moved from Bagneux to Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris and in 1912 a monument by Jacob Epstein is erected over them (Oscar Wilde Society, 2013)

Genre

Classic

Curriculum Ties

The book would be ideal in an English course on British literature or the Gothic novel.  Indeed the book has been approved by the California Department of Education as part of their database of Recommended Literature. 

Booktalking Ideas

1.  Focus on the Gothic elements.

2. Discuss the book in tandem with Wilde's life and talk about how his society repressed people who were gay.

Reading Level/Interest Age

8th grade and up.

Challenge Issues

Gray's exploits are mostly talked about obliquely; there is, however, an act of murder in the novel.

I would openly greet any patron who presented a challenge to the work, giving them ample time to detail their complaint.  I would listen attentively.  To respond to these challenges I would have some reviews of the work on hand.   I would be prepared to explain that as a public institution libraries "cannot limit access on the basis of age or other characteristics" (ALA, 1999).  I would have copies of the library's collection policy on hand.  I would be prepared to politely discuss that parents can control what their children are exposed to by coming to the library with them and examining books they check out.  If the Teen Advisory Group had written reviews of the work I'd have them handy.  While it may be of little comfort to certain parents, I would also be prepared to discuss my staunch support of intellectual freedom and abhorrence of censorship.  As a last resort, I would be sure to keep copies or a reconsideration form on hand.

I would also discuss this book's inclusion in the California Department of Education's list of Recommended Literature.

Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?

It feels like a strong companion piece to Pink and Less Than Zero, a depiction of a gay or bisexual character from a different perspective.

References

American Library Association. (1999). Strategies and tips for dealing with challenges to library materials. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/copingwithchallenges/strategiestips 


Oscar Wilde Society. (2013). Biography. Retrieved from http://www.oscarwildesociety.co.uk/biography.html