The Schrodinger's painting in ‘The picture of dorian gray’ by oscar wilde

Abstract

This paper examines whether beauty can exist without observation, using Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and Erwin Schrödinger’s ‘Schrödinger’s Cat’ experiment as a framework. In Wilde’s novel, Dorian’s portrait reflects his moral corruption while his outward appearance remains unchanged, raising the question of whether beauty or decay truly exists if it is not seen. By drawing on Schrödinger’s paradox, the analysis explores how Wilde challenges the Victorian ideal of beauty, suggesting that unseen corruption cannot persist until observed. This paper offers a new perspective on the relationship between perception, beauty, and morality.