--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dorian winced and looked round at the…" description: "\"“Dorian winced and looked round at the grotesque things that lay in such fantastic postures on the ragged mattresses. The twisted limbs, the gaping mou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_dorian-winced-and-looked-round-at-the-gr_3170057.jpg" --- # Dorian winced and looked round at the grotesque things… ![“Dorian winced and looked round at the grotesque things that lay in such fantastic postures on the ragged mattresses. The twisted limbs, the gaping mouths, the staring lustreless eyes, fascinated him.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_dorian-winced-and-looked-round-at-the-gr_3170057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_dorian-winced-and-looked-round-at-the-gr_3170057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_dorian-winced-and-looked-round-at-the-gr_3170057.jpg) > ““Dorian winced and looked round at the grotesque things that lay in such fantastic postures on the ragged mattresses. The twisted limbs, the gaping mouths, the staring lustreless eyes, fascinated him.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dorian is both by grotesque, distorted bodies, reflecting his inner moral decay. **In simple terms:** Seeing horror reveals inner corruption. Key Takeaway Notice how inner decay shows outward. Themes beauty decay perception Mood uneasy intrigued Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - art criticism - personal reflection - moral introspection Key Concepts aestheticism psychology symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does the grotesque reveal about Dorian? - How do we confront our own inner decay? A Different Perspective The description may glorify horror, ignoring empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dorian/) [Dorian Winced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dorian-winced-5766520/) [Grotesque Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grotesque-things-5766522/) [Mattresses Twisted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mattresses-twisted-5766523/) [Winced Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winced-looked-5766521/) ## Related quotes > [To find beauty in the most grotesque things is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seph-lawless/to-find-beauty-in-the-most-grotesque-things-is-a-gift/) [Seph Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seph-lawless/) > [“By the way, Dorian, he (Lord Henry) said, after a pause, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-way-dorian-he-lord-henry-said-after-a-pause-what-does-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord-henry-what-the-world-thinks/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I turned halfway round, and saw Dorian Gray for the first time. When our eyes met, I felt that I was growing pale. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-turned-halfway-round-and-saw-dorian-gray-for-the-first-time-when/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“tone of colour in a room or a morning sky, a particular perfume that you had once loved and that brings subtle memories with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/tone-of-colour-in-a-room-or-a-morning-sky-a-particular-perfume-that/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Each of us has heaven and hell in him, Basil, cried Dorian with a wild gesture of despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/each-of-us-has-heaven-and-hell-in-him-basil-cried-dorian-with-a-wild/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Yes, Dorian, you will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/yes-dorian-you-will-always-be-fond-of-me-i-represent-to-you-all-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian Gray had been poisoned by a book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/dorian-gray-had-been-poisoned-by-a-book/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The longer I live, Dorian, the more keenly I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers is not good enough for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-longer-i-live-dorian-the-more-keenly-i-feel-that-whatever-was/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Nicioadata nu aprob sau dezaprob un lucru, e o atitudine absurda fata de viata. Nu suntem trimisi in lume ca sa ne exibitionam prejudecatile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nicioadata-nu-aprob-sau-dezaprob-un-lucru-e-o-atitudine-absurda-fata/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“people who only love once in their lives are really shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/people-who-only-love-once-in-their-lives-are-really-shallow-people/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian Gray listened, open-eyed and wondering. The spray of lilac fell from his hand upon the gravel. A furry bee came and buzzed round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/dorian-gray-listened-open-eyed-and-wondering-the-spray-of-lilac-fell/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-strange-sense-of-loss-came-over-him-he-felt-that-dorian-gray-would/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Life has everything in store for you, Dorian. There is nothing that you, with your extraordinary good looks, will not be able to do."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/life-has-everything-in-store-for-you-dorian-there-is-nothing-that-you/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Dorian quotes > [“Fine, she wouldn't mind if Kaltain and Perrington met horrible deaths, but Dorian would be there. And Chaol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-mass/fine-she-wouldn-t-mind-if-kaltain-and-perrington-met-horrible-deaths/) [Sarah J. Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-mass/) > [“By the way, Dorian, he (Lord Henry) said, after a pause, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-way-dorian-he-lord-henry-said-after-a-pause-what-does-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-strange-sense-of-loss-came-over-him-he-felt-that-dorian-gray-would/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian Gray listened, open-eyed and wondering. The spray of lilac fell from his hand upon the gravel. A furry bee came and buzzed round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/dorian-gray-listened-open-eyed-and-wondering-the-spray-of-lilac-fell/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian grunted, staring out at the forest. "Where's Sascha?" "In the aerie." "You left her alone?" "As my mate would say- she's a cardinal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/dorian-grunted-staring-out-at-the-forest-where-s-sascha-in-the-aerie/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“people who only love once in their lives are really shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/people-who-only-love-once-in-their-lives-are-really-shallow-people/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian didn’t bother saying anything to anyone and just stared at the glass pitcher of water before him. Celaena hadn’t seemed like herself just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/dorian-didn-t-bother-saying-anything-to-anyone-and-just-stared-at-the/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Nicioadata nu aprob sau dezaprob un lucru, e o atitudine absurda fata de viata. Nu suntem trimisi in lume ca sa ne exibitionam prejudecatile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nicioadata-nu-aprob-sau-dezaprob-un-lucru-e-o-atitudine-absurda-fata/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The longer I live, Dorian, the more keenly I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers is not good enough for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-longer-i-live-dorian-the-more-keenly-i-feel-that-whatever-was/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Aedion didn’t bother talking to him, too preoccupied with humming bawdy tunes and inspecting the various women they passed. He’d dropped the half-civilized veneer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/aedion-didn-t-bother-talking-to-him-too-preoccupied-with-humming/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“He gripped the back of the sofa as though physically restraining himself. "You're a liar. You've always been a liar. And today was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-gripped-the-back-of-the-sofa-as-though-physically-restraining/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She touched his arm. “If you need anything, send word. It’ll be a few weeks before we reach Orynth, but—I suppose with magic returned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-touched-his-arm-if-you-need-anything-send-word-it-ll-be-a-few/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Oath-breaker. Liar. Traitor. Chaol was all of those things now, but not to Dorian. Never to his true king. “Take out the clock tower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/oath-breaker-liar-traitor-chaol-was-all-of-those-things-now-but-not/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Dorian Gray had been poisoned by a book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/dorian-gray-had-been-poisoned-by-a-book/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Browse all 151 Dorian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dorian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dorian winced and looked round at the grotesque things that lay in such fantastic postures on the ragged mattresses. 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