I think we still read this book today because the message that this book sends will never grow old. The message is so timeless because it is about the morals that people must have to succeed in life. Dorian Gray had none of these because Henry poisoned Dorian's mind with his views instead of letting Dorian learn for himself. Because Henry did this, Dorian never developed any morals and thought that the only thing that mattered in life was youth and his looks.
These characters are so timeless because we will always have people in life who are exactly like them. There is always going to be someone who will try to make you see their point of view, and theirs only, and agree with it. Also, there is always going to be that person who cares about their looks and youth alone and nothing else. Finally, there is always going to be that good friend that would do anything for you, that you take advantage of and overlook.
We can still learn from this novel that basically you cannot judge a book by its cover. Dorian may have looked innocent, beautiful, and boyish on the outside, but inside he was vain and deceptive and shallow. He had no care for anybody and what happened to them, he only cared about himself and nothing else. The Picture of Dorian Gray shows which morals people need to develop and how vanity can affect you in the long run.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics. 2003. Print.
But did these traits exist within Gray all along or were they caused by outside influences?
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