Eternal Youth and its Consequences: How Film Adaptations of Dorian Gray Portray Moral Decline

Abstract

In The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), Oscar Wilde explores the dark consequences of vanity, beauty and moral decay. Through the lens of a young man's obsession with eternal youth, Wilde reveals a chilling portrait of a society that values appearance above all else, and where the price of such obsession is a corrupted soul. The novel's haunting imagery of Dorian's portrait - a reflection of his hidden depravity - has captivated readers for over a century, resonating far beyond its original pages. This powerful symbolism has been vividly brought to life in several adaptations, including Albert Lewin's 1945 version and Oliver Parker's 2009 retelling. Both films intensify Wilde's themes and offer unique interpretations of Dorian's moral collapse. Together, they reimagine the novel's cautionary tale, reminding us that the pursuit of beauty, when divorced from morality, can lead to a fate far more monstrous than we could ever imagine.