PIcture of Dorian Gray? What is the ultimate symbolism of the book?

Question

I know the symbols throughout the book but what is the ultimate symbol of the novel? Any clues

Answer 1

What is often overlooked is the fact that Wilde raises the theme of personal moral choice in the novel. Although Dorian is doomed by what Lord Henry has said about “the search for beauty being the real secret of life”, his curiosity getting the better of him, the reader still juggles this with the notion that in the end it is Dorian with his freedom of will who makes the moral choice to give in to temptation.

Peter Raby is right in saying that “Dorian’s choice
is analogous to Faustus’s (and Faust’s) first action of egotistical self-delight; and the Mephistophelean figure of Lord Henry is present to strengthen the protagonist’s resolve”. An opium den’s prostitute swears that “he has sold himself to the devil for a pretty face”. The portrait is the ultimate symbol of this Faustian choice of Dorian’s.

Answer 2

While I have never read the book, I saw the video several years ago. If my memory serves me correct, Dorian Gray just can't deal with the fact that he is aging and by looking at the picture of himself - wants to believe tha he in fact is not really aging.
Like I said, it has been a while since I saw the video.

Answer 3

It's referring to both: he's describing the shadow of the birds mixed with the curtains. He's referring to the way that the shadows of the birds look through the curtains, the way that they were delicate and sort of silhouetted, like Japanese origami or a hanging Japanese screen. He was kind of seeing what suggested a bird through the curtain. I hope that this helps! Good luck on your translation. :)

Answer 4

Obviously the painting. Pax - C