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Find a comprehensive overview, plot summary, character analysis, and quotes from Oscar Wilde's classic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Explore the themes of morality, aestheticism, and Victorian society with SparkNotes.
- Themes
A summary of Themes in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian...
- Full Book Summary
The Picture of Dorian Gray Full Book Summary. In the stately...
- Chapters Three & Four
A summary of Chapters Three & Four in Oscar Wilde's The...
- Sparklet Chapter Summaries
Dorian’s servants break into the room and discover the body...
- Symbols
A summary of Symbols in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian...
- Chapters Eleven & Twelve
A summary of Chapters Eleven & Twelve in Oscar Wilde's The...
- Chapters Seven & Eight
A summary of Chapters Seven & Eight in Oscar Wilde's The...
- The Preface & Chapters One & Two
A summary of The Preface & Chapters One & Two in Oscar...
- Important Quotes Explained
Explanation of the famous quotes in The Picture of Dorian...
- Character List
The Picture of Dorian Gray characters include: Dorian Gray ,...
- Themes
A comprehensive overview of Oscar Wilde's novel about a young man who stays beautiful while his portrait ages and records his sins. Learn about Dorian's relationship with Basil, Lord Henry, Sibyl, and the mysterious James Vane.
- Oscar Wilde
- 1890
- Preface & Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
After a series of epigrams highlighting Wilde’s aesthetic philosophy, the novel begins in the London home of Basil Hallward, an artist who shares his latest painting with the clever and scandalous Lord Henry. Basil describes how he met Dorian Gray and since has become an object of obsession for Basil. As Lord Henry recalls having heard the name Dor...
While Dorian sits for Basil’s painting, Lord Henry discusses his personal philosophy. Lord Henry speaks with Dorian about the fading qualities of youth and beauty, urging Dorian to live life to the fullest. Dorian curses the fact that while his portrait will never grow old, he himself will, and as a gift, Basil promises to give Dorian the painting....
Lord Henry learns about Dorian’s tragic past and becomes fascinated with Dorian, setting his sights on influencing him. Lord Henry goes to dine at the home of Lady Agatha where several guests, including Dorian, have gathered. Lord Henry appalls the guests with his selfishness and hedonism, but his charm enraptures them, particularly Dorian.
Dorian shares the news with Lord Henry that he has fallen in love with an actress named Sibyl Vane, and Lord Henry agrees to accompany Dorian to see her play the lead in Romeo and Juliet. After Dorian departs, Lord Henry congratulates himself on the influence he has had over Dorian, and later, he receives a telegram from Dorian informing him that h...
Sibyl is enraptured by her union to Dorian, but her family has doubts about Dorian’s intentions. While on a walk with her brother James, Sibyl spots Dorian, but Dorian quickly disappears. James pledges that if Dorian ever hurts Sibyl, he will kill him.
Lord Henry tells Basil of Dorian’s plan to marry Sibyl, a fact that worries Basil because Dorian would be marrying beneath his social position. When Dorian enters and tells the story of his engagement, Lord Henry defends his point of view concerning the virtues of selfishness by claiming that it is nature that dictates the pursuit of pleasure. Read...
The men attend the theatre to watch Sibyl’s play, but Sibyl gives a disappointing performance. Dorian confronts Sibyl backstage, and she says that before meeting Dorian she was able to inhabit other characters, but now that she has met Dorian and has true feelings for him, she has no interest in false emotions. Dorian disparages Sibyl, calls off th...
The face on Dorian’s portrait has indeed changed, and while he tries to come up with a rational explanation, Lord Henry arrives with the news that Sibyl has committed suicide. Lord Henry convinces Dorian not to go to the police or wallow in guilt, but rather appreciate her suicide as an example of undying love. Dorian resolves to live a life of hed...
When Basil arrives to offer condolences, Dorian does not express any remorse. Basil attempts to remove the screen covering Dorian’s painting, at which point Dorian stops him and insists that the portrait never be seen in public. After Basil leaves, Dorian decides to hide the portrait.
Dorian locks the portrait in a room, musing that if no one sees the painting’s deterioration, then it bears no importance. Dorian becomes entranced by a book Lord Henry lent him that confuses the boundaries between vice and virtue. Chapter Eleven After years pass, Dorian maintains his youth and beauty as his soul corrupts. Dorian keeps up with cont...
LitCharts offers comprehensive and concise summaries, analysis, and quizzes for Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Learn about the plot, themes, characters, symbols, and literary devices of this classic Gothic novel.
A comprehensive overview of Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, with key events, themes, characters, and literary devices. Learn how Dorian Gray's portrait reflects his sins and aging, while he remains young and beautiful.
A comprehensive summary of Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which explores themes of art, beauty, hedonism, and morality. The summary covers the plot, characters, symbols, and quotes from each chapter, as well as the preface and the epilogue.
A comprehensive guide to Wilde's only novel, a Gothic horror story about a young man who stays beautiful while his portrait ages and decays. Learn about the themes of decadence, aestheticism, and the Faustian pact, and the characters of Dorian, Basil, and Lord Henry.
