"To define is to limit"

Shakespeare is undoubtedly the genius of English literature at all. According to him, Dickens is often called. But then come on Oscar Wilde, who created with his 1890 novel "The Picture of Dorian Grey 'a timeless masterpiece.

In the center of the narrative is the adonis same Schönling Dorian Grey, who, desperate cries at the sight of his portraits, which was made by his friend Basil Hallward: "If it were I who what to be always young, and the picture did what to grow old [ ...] I would give my soul for that! " (34)

His wish comes true. During Dorian is blessed with perpetual youth, his portrait shows him the uglier expectant grimace his corrupt soul. Occasion for Dorian's moral downfall, and by far the most fascinating character of the novel, the abysmally cynical Lord Henry, Dorian as "interesting study" (68) is considered, and persuaded him that gift of beauty to enjoy to the fullest.

Almost every sentence of Lord Henry wants to be learned by heart anyway. So he says about women: "We have emancipated them, but They are slaves looking for Their Masters, all the same They love being dominated." (120).

And in the following discussion to all his indifference reveals almost all over:

"What kind of?" she asked.

"It's a malady."

"Love?"

"An illusion."

"Religion?"

"The fashionable substitute for Belief."

"You are a skeptic."

"Never! Scepticism is the beginning of Faith."

"What are you?"

"To define is to limit." (224f.)

This is exactly what makes the novel a masterpiece. An almost incredible wit and countless aphorisms for the record. Together with Dorian deriving to the dark side of power, resulting in a bitter satire of late Victorian society.