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Did you already have Dorian Gray figured out  or did he go through changes in your head as the book progressed?

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1. How do you think Sybil Vane's character would have impacted the plot of the book had she not died so early in the text?

2.  Is Lord Henry's belief in the freedom of the individual truly evil?

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1. With the note Dorian passed to Alan Campbell Oscar Wilde fails to include what he was threatened with. In your opinion why didn't Wilde include the threat and what do you think it was?
2. It's fair to say that by reading the introduction to the book you gain a fair sense of who Wilde was and what the book may be about. Do you think that by reading the introduction readers are influenced too heavily by what some actions and wording on the book may mean that some of the book is lost? Would you argue that the introduction be read before or after the reader finishes the book?

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1. Do you think Dorian Gray's behavior is from only the manipulation and influence of Lord Henry or do you think Lord Henry simply showed Dorian Gray a new outlook on things and Dorian twisted them because he wanted too? In the book he purposely lets himself go.

2. Is Lord Henry really the antagonist? Most of his views are factual they are just shown by him in a negative context?

3. Do you enjoy being head of the English Depart at VCU? What is your favorite novel?

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What do you think is the most influential part(s) of the book to the full, uncensored story, that the censored one did not include? Why is it influential?

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1.Who do you think was responsible for Dorians Gray's decline? Would he have lived a different path if he had not met with Basil and Lord Henry?

2. Dorian's scandalous behavior shocks his peers, yet he remains welcome in social circles, why?What could Wilde be suggesting about "polite" London society?

3. What is the importance of sin and redemption in the novel? Is there any redemption for Dorian?

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- Do you think that Sybil Vane committed suicide because of Dorian rejecting her true self and her love or that is was simply an accident?
- Is Sybil relevant to the story in furthering the way Dorian acts in the future, or was she simply a small hump in a long timeline?

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-Over the course of the book, the people who shape Dorian Gray's life are also each associated with different forms of art: Basil gives him the eponymous painting, Lord Henry gives him the yellow book, Sybil is an actress, and Alan Campbell plays the violin and piano. What does Wilde's depiction of the impact of these characters on Dorian or the lack thereof say about his views on the impact of art on people?
-In Chapter 13, Lord Henry says to Dorian, "I am so glad that you have never done anything, never carved a statue, or painted a picture, or produced anything outside of yourself! Life has been your art." How does Dorian's outwardly beautiful yet corrupt life compare to Wilde's own art and life?
-Has the Dorian we see in the last few chapters of the novel inherently changed from the Dorian at the beginning, or is he also "the real Dorian Gray", as Lord Henry and Basil discuss in Chapter 2?

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1. Given the characters complex views and thought processes, do you think the characters in Dorian Gray were given or inhibited characteristics of mental disorders that Oscar Wilde may have acknowledged in himself.

2. Is the portrait changing supposed to be a representation of great artists being able to capture the "soul" their work, or is their some sort of magic going on along with maybe a psychological projection.

3. Dorian was able to escape death from the brother of Sybil Vane who seek revenge because he too saw Dorian not age. Did Dorian make a deal with the devil to stay youthful with a catch that caused his life to go downhill. At the end the portrait "switched" and Dorian is now "ugly". Did it actually switch because he ended the deal with the devil or was it all a mere illusion?

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In Chapter 9, the rhythm of the book changes greatly. Reading through it feels slow and seems almost unnecessary to the plot. It is riddled with descriptions of luxurious life in Victorian England and shows the communal and growing disdain for Dorian. Is there a greater purpose to this chapter than showing the progression of time and the progression of Dorian?

After Lord Henry talks to Dorian about new Hedonism and the power of the aesthetic in the painting Basil created, Dorian becomes obsessed with preserving his youth - the only part of himself in which he sees value. At the end of the book, Basil is dead and Dorian goes to destroy the painting with the same knife that killed Basil, seemingly wanting to be the only depiction of his invaluable youth. Instead, readers find Dorian stabbed through the heart at the scene and the painting is untouched. Dorian is described as old and wrinkled and the book takes on an ominous and magical tone. This tone was seen early, too, as the painting would change with the actions of Dorian. Are these elements of aging meant to be taken literally, or do they stand as more metaphorical representations of development? Also, Wilde makes sure to identify the knife that ultimately kills Dorian as the one that was used to kill Basil. Despite their moral and physical differences, was this on purpose to connect them through something as universal as death? Or does it have another meaning or none at all?

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1. It is seen in chapter eleven, that Basil is coming to a dark realization that his portrait he had once conjured of and for Dorian Gray is evil and that the painting contains some elements of Hell. For he, Basil’s first intentions were to capture the heaven like essence of Dorian Gray and is absolutely surprised for how it had effected Dorian Gray with his new habits. Could Lord Henry have wanted to negatively influence Basil Hallward through utilizing Dorian Gray and his portrait?

2. Could Lord Henry and Basil Hallward represent the pros and cons of Oscar Wilde making the decision in publishing his explicit book?

3. When Dorian Gray made his confession to Alan Campbell, Alan states that it was mad of him to do so. Why is it that the truth of someone who has committed a hellish and sinful act gets turned against them and becomes overbearing even though they may be told “may the truth set you free”? Even if this confession is stated to one’s self, they too are full of regret, and/or hatred towards themselves. Or, perhaps due to the darkness inside them, they may feel what they have done is right, and therefore, is not truly set free.

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1. Do you believe Oscar Wilde's the Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray was simply exemplifying his belief that art serves no moral purpose, and that any morality within art is only a product of the audience, not the artist, through the actions of Dorian Gray and the references he makes to his own portrait when gauging the severity of his actions?

2. With whom do you identify with most in the novel: Basil, Dorian Gray, or Lorde Henry?

3. Do you believe that the Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray was a simple commentary into Victorian Era society and mentality? Or is the book an insight into the parts of humanity as a whole? If the book speaks more towards themes of our humanity, then what modern social and cultural values we see today are evident in Basil and Lord Henry's analysis of hedonism and the purpose of living?

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1// In the preface, Oscar Wilde preaches what we know he always has, that one should value the aesthetics of art over any deeper value or content. In chapter 9 of The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray, however, the protagonist yearns for more than just the surface (beauty/aesthetics, if you will) level from life. If Oscar Wilde truly believed in the "art for arts sake" principle, how was he able to so genuinely articulate such epistemology? Does this perhaps represent the duality Wilde assumed living under the mask of heterosexuality, when he was truly on the spectrum of homosexuality?

2// What is your understanding of the relationship between Dorian Gray and Sybil Vane? Some believe that Gray had absolutely no deeper feelings for her and he was simply infatuated with her ability to employ different characters and escape her present world, a world he perhaps found oppressing and unfair. Some believe that he used Sybil Vane to cover up his homosexuality. However, the impact of her death must stand for something. We have discussed in seminar the possibility of Dorian Gray's sexuality being something that he could not fully identify, for there was no societal understanding of the range of sexual status ("the word homosexual did not enter the English language until 1892).

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1. Do you think Wilde writing about the downfall of Dorian's character could have been a representation of what he thought would happen to him after his book was published as this was not a "typical work of its time? I guess I's asking was this the foreshadowing of his own demise before he had lived through it, because he knew what he was doing and that it wasn't a social norm as it is today. After all isn't the book a sort of essence of himself or a realistic portrayal of his more private side.

2. In the preface, Wilde writes that "there is no such thing as a moral or immoral book." In other words, art has no effect, other than aesthetic, on individuals or society. Do you agree with Wilde's premise? Why does this novel contradict this statement?

3. Lord Henry obviously has a sway over the impressionable and shocks guests with his bold ideas yet why doesn't he actually put them into action?

4. What is the actual source of Dorian's downfall, in my opinion it is the blame of Lord Henry for filling his head with his won philosophy of hedonism but couldn't you also say that it is Dorian's fault because he willingly enthralled himself with Lord Henry's ideas and this leads him to become obsessed with remaining young and beautiful. Why is Dorian impelled to follow his guidance, what is he afraid of?

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What is the painting of Dorian Gray actually a representation of? A painting is the representation of the physical surface yet why does it reflect Dorian's inner self as the story progresses?
Is it fair to assume the characters are representations of Wilde himself, and if so, to what extent does the three main characters represent different personalities/identities of Oscar Wilde?
Before composing The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde was wildly known for his plays. What was his motive to write and publish such "indecent" literature knowing it will ultimately lead to his demise?

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1.) Throughout the novel, the reader has been witness to the deterioration of Dorian's character. We have watched him descend into an endless pit of sin, only to die in his effort to repent and start anew. In writing this, was Wilde conveying a belief that there is no such thing as repentance and new beginnings?

2.) Wilde had stated after publishing his novel that Dorian was the man he wished he could be, if only in another time. However, throughout the novel,a nd specifically chapters eleven and twelve, Wilde creates the most morally bankrupt person he could craft. Dorian exhibits lust in his relationship with Sybil Vane, greed in his aesthetically obsessed lifestyle,  wrath in his treatment of Sybil and murder of Basil, and pride in his lack of fault as the painting deteriorates instead of him. Did Wilde craft Dorian in such a morally decrepit manner as a way to justify why he could not live with the freedom Dorian enjoyed?

3. Throughout The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray,  Wilde often emphasized the emptiness and corrupting power of overindulgence and aestheticism. In comparison to The Picture of Dorian Gray, did Oscar Wilde include his opinions into his other works? If so, how did these opinions influence the works?

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1.) “No one can, except a sentimentalist”, Dorian expresses to Basil. This is just one of many example in which either Basil, Lorde Henry, and Dorian Gray contradicts their intellect. Its evident that the three men strive for first emotion. So, why is this important to the character development, especially to Dorian Gray?
2.) Is the novel more of a metaphor for the inevitable aging of our youth and flaws? Or, was it a way for a closeted homosexual living in the time of Victorian England to express his thoughts?
3.) Is Oscar Wilde primarily trying to express his philosophy on art, or does this dive into something deeper?

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1. Do you think identifying the sexual identities of the characters in Dorian Gray is essential when evaluating the importance and meaning of the novel? Or is the focus so fixated on Hedonism that sexual identities are not important to the story?

2. How does the depiction of Sybil Vane reflect the way women were portrayed in literature then and now? Is her lack or personality and characterization a product of it's time? Sexism?

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How important is the death of Sybil Vane to the story and character development of Dorian Gray.
Are the introductions included to influence the way reader's receive the story.
What were your thoughts after your first read of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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In your opinion do you think that Oscar Wilde shared the same beliefs that Lord Henry does?

How did you become the head of the English Department at VCU? Was that something you've always wanted to do?

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Why does everyone think I'm a terrible actress? I may be dead but I'm still freaking wonderful.

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Why does everyone think I'm the bad guy?

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1. The novel focuses on the development of Dorian's character as he discovers the power of his vanity over himself and others. Does the book's exploration of personal choice and identity reflect the importance of free will or social responsibility?
2. Do you think the power of language has increased, decreased, or evolved completely over time and what impact do you think this has had on the way society understands and uses language?
3. In the future, do you think the intense analysis of books like The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray should be initiated in high school or earlier classes? What impact do you think this will have on the social and cognitive development of younger generations?

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1. We know Oscar Wilde believed quite strongly in aestheticism, he has demonstrated a belief that no art is moral ("I am quite incapable of understanding how any work of art can be criticized from a moral standpoint.  The sphere of art and the sphere of ethics are absolutely distinct and separate..."); however, throughout The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wild often discusses moral issues of Victorian England. Can Oscar Wilde's aesthetic beliefs and moral content share space in his artistic works, or is Oscar Wilde demonstrating hypocrisy?

2. What are Oscar Wilde's beliefs on hedonism, especially in comparison to his beliefs on aestheticism?  Is hedonism aestheticism of life to some extent?

3. To what extent does knowing Oscar Wilde's history affect the reading of The Picture of Dorian Gray? Do we insert more homosexual content then than there is written as a result of Oscar Wilde's own identity?

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1. Wilde is mostly known for his plays. Do you  think he is a mature novelist in the way he uses few actions and extensive monologue

for his characters?

2. Compare and Contract The Importance of Being Earnest, Dorian Gray, and An Ideal Husband.

3. What genre would you consider Dorian Gray? Drama, horror, science fiction?

4. Is Oscar Wilde a gay martyr?

5. Describe Wilde's portrayal of women. Is he really that sexist?

6. Why is Wilde so set on embellishing is how pretty and sinful everything is?

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Based on intention of Oscar Wilde in the creation of these characters, do you believe he "future proofed" these ideals that each character shares? Do the same thought processes of Lord Henry, Dorian, and Basil still exist in people in today's world or is their representation to exaggerated to compare to life today in this period? Are there any modern day associations or events you've noticed could be said to have been influenced by this book or books of similar nature/intent?

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How are each of the characters representations of Oscar Wilde and how is that explicitly/implicitly shown throughout the text?
What is the point of Wilde constantly repeating the theme of "New Hedonism" when this becomes very evident within the first few chapters?

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- What do you think of the erasure of Dorian Gray's attraction to Sybil Vane and other woman?
- Do you believe that Oscar Wilde is a good novelist, or should he remain a playwright and short story author?
-  Do you think it matters who is the 'real' Dorian (speaking of the body and the painting)? Also, can one separate the picture from the person or are they one entity that happens to occupy two different spaces?
- Would the book be different if Sybil Vane were a boy? How much character would we get from her if her gender were changed? Would she have died?
- Can we say that Dorian was born into a society that discourages who he wants to be, or is he simply a man who believes that the world is against him and plays the victim card?

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1. Is Sybil vane, as a character, a parallel to Wilde's real life wife. Furthermore, does her death, in an exaggerated way, show how desperate Wilde was to leave his marriage and be able to live his true life.
2. In conjunction with the previous question, how does Sybil Vane's name reflect her character's function within the book (namely how similar her name is to the adjective vain).