Surface and Symbol in The Picture of Dorian Gray: Subversion in a "Moral" Story

Abstract

Although Oscar Wilde has been argued to subtly subvert common views on morality in his plays, this thesis explores whether this is also true for Wilde's only novel, and to what extent. The theme of subversion in PDG in explored in relation to older visions of morality such as the Faustus theme, to Wilde's contemporary writers, and to his own oeuvre.