The Links Between The Picture of Dorian Gray and Greek Mythology

One of the most popular books of the modern age, Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is among the most fascinating stories with roots in ancient Greek mythology and particularly in the story of Narcissus.

However, it’s not the story of Narcissus that The Picture of Dorian Gray reminds us of. Another Greek mythological figure, Adonis, could potentially be a source of inspiration for Oscar Wilde.

Who was Adonis?

The mythological figure of Adonis is a classic archetypal character that could have influenced the protagonist in The Picture of Dorian Gray. The story extends beyond the obvious aspects of physical beauty to deeper issues of love and the human psyche.

Lord Henry explicitly introduces this connection in the novel’s opening chapter, comparing Dorian to “this young Adonis, who looks as if he was made out of ivory and rose leaves.”

The immediate association and connection between Dorian Gray and Adonis from Greek mythology makes it clear that Dorian Gray’s unparalleled beauty is one of a kind. One could argue that it even foreshadows his future fate.

In the later parts of the novel, Basil Hallward, the painter of the portrait, makes mention of this connection. He worships Dorian as his “Hellenic ideal,” drawing direct parallels to the classical Greek aesthetic and the notion of beauty in Greek mythology.

The well-known Adonis myth provides a crucial framework for several key themes in the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Just as Adonis attracts the attention of both Aphrodite and Persephone, Dorian becomes the object of complete and utter fascination for both Basil Hallward and Lord Henry.

This fierce competition for influence over Dorian Gray is heavily influenced by the struggle between the goddesses inherent in Greek mythology.

The obsession of Dorian Gray with maintaining his youth and beauty is quite similar to the myth of Adonis and, more importantly, that of Narcissus, who is generally preoccupied with eternal youth.

Dorian himself embraces this comparison, aspiring to be “like the gods of the Greeks, strong and . . . joyous.”

Other connections between Dorian Gray and Greek mythology

Apart from Adonis, the character of Dorian Gray is shaped by many other Greek mythological figures. Most notably, the myth of Narcissus plays a crucial role in the development of the novel. This is because Dorian is obsessed with his own image, something that closely mirrors the eventual fatal self-absorption of Narcissus.

Like Narcissus, who was mesmerized by his own beauty and ended up wasting away his life gazing at his own reflection, Dorian also becomes increasingly infatuated with his portrait, leading to his eventual destruction.

In addition to this obvious correlation between the stories of Narcissus and Adonis, it could be argued that the myth of Actaeon and Artemis helps one understand the relationship between Dorian Gray and Sibyl Vane, Dorian’s first love.

This interconnection primarily deals with issues of sexual awakening and self-discovery, with Actaeon’s fatal glimpse of Artemis representing Dorian’s initial fascination with Sibyl’s purity.

The significance of the parallels between Dorian Gray and Greek mythology

The Adonis parallel in the story of Dorian Gray helps readers dive deeper into the psyche of the character. The tragic fate of Adonis provides a glimpse into Dorian Gray’s own fate and foreshadows his own downfall.

This clearly demonstrates that extraordinary beauty often carries a terrible price for those who were lucky—or unlucky—enough to have it.

The use of classical references by Oscar Wilde places the novel within a broader literary tradition that clearly connects Victorian Aestheticism with ancient Greek ideals. It is typical of how ancient Greece and its values were revived in 19th-century Britain and the West as a whole.

The comparison between Dorian Gray, Adonis, and Narcissus helps readers better comprehend the character of Dorian Gray and how he was defined by his extraordinary beauty, which is simultaneously a blessing and curse. This sets up the central conflict of the novel.

One could even argue that the portrait itself becomes a modern interpretation of the ancient Greek myth of Adonis.

However, the comparisons would be more fitting to the story of Narcissus, as Adonis’ annual death and rebirth is fundamentally different to Dorian Gray’s fate. Nonetheless, Wilde’s story was an attempt to represent the cyclical nature of beauty and decay that defines each and everyone’s life.

Dorian achieves a different type of immortality through his portrait, which bears the marks of time and sin whilst he maintains his youthful appearance.