Set in 19th century England the novel opens as Lord Henry Wotton is visiting his friend Basil
Howard. Basil is painting Dorian Gray’s portrait. Henry admires the painting, but Basil
worries he left too much of his feelings for Dorian seep into it. They go into the studio where
Henry chats with Dorian, he praises Dorian’s beauty. When Dorian sees the portrait, he
realises that he will age but the portrait will remain the same. He wishes that the painting
would be the one to age while he remains young and beautiful. The next day Henry visits his
uncle to learn Dorian’s familial background; his mother was beautiful but ran away with a
poor lover. Thus Dorian will inherit a lot of money
A month passes and Dorian attends a poor theatre where he falls in love with a young actress
named Sibyl Vane. Dorian tells his friends that he will marry Sibyl Vane. She is very happy
and completely smitten. Her brother James is suspicious: he doesn’t like the gap between
their classes. He also worries about Sibyl as he is about to leave the country seeking his
fortune.
Henry and Basil go to the theatre with Dorian to watch Sybil act, but she performs terribly,
after Sibyl tells Dorian how she used to act to escape but doesn’t need to do that anymore.
She can’t act as she did before. Unfortunately that’s what Dorian loved about her, thus he
breaks off the engagement. When he gets home he finds a new line in Basil’s portrait: cruelty
can now be spotted in the face.
After he leaves Sybil commits suicide, Dorian is horrified to learn of her death the next day.
However Henry talks him into seeing it as something in the past, a learning experience.
Because of the change in the portrait Dorian locks it away so that no one will see it, after
having it locked away Dorian reads a note from Henry, which includes results from an
inquest done on Sybil’s death along with a French novel, he reads it the whole day becoming
highly influenced by it.
He enters into an extended period of self indulgence as the years pass, people tell stories
about his activities. Some of these are sensual, like spending money and gems on music.
Others then again are scandalous, immoral and illegal. However, few people really believe
these stories because he appears to retain his youthful innocence and beauty.
The eve of his 38th birthday he runs into Basil. He warns Dorian of the scandalous stories
circulating about him. He wishes he could say the stories are untrue but for that he would
need to see his soul when he says that only God can do that. Dorian says he keeps a journal of
his soul leading his friend to the portrait. Basil is horrified at the sight, Dorian reminds Basil
of the wish he had made so long ago. They talk about what the change means, Basil
concludes that Dorian's sins must be terrible for the painting to look like that. Overcome by a
wave of anger and loathing Dorian stabs Basil to death then contacts Alan Campbell a
scientist he used to be close with, he blackmails him into getting rid of Basil’s body.
Late that night Dorian goes to an opium den and gets recognised as prince charming, a sailor
(James Vane) hears this and goes after him. Dorian gets out of near death by showing James
his supernaturally youthful face, apologising James lets Dorian go. Once he is gone a woman
from the den says that it was indeed the same man.
A week later Dorian faints at a party when he sees James’ face in the window.Terrified he
stays home for three days before joining a group of hunters to shoot game. He walks with a
Howard. Basil is painting Dorian Gray’s portrait. Henry admires the painting, but Basil
worries he left too much of his feelings for Dorian seep into it. They go into the studio where
Henry chats with Dorian, he praises Dorian’s beauty. When Dorian sees the portrait, he
realises that he will age but the portrait will remain the same. He wishes that the painting
would be the one to age while he remains young and beautiful. The next day Henry visits his
uncle to learn Dorian’s familial background; his mother was beautiful but ran away with a
poor lover. Thus Dorian will inherit a lot of money
A month passes and Dorian attends a poor theatre where he falls in love with a young actress
named Sibyl Vane. Dorian tells his friends that he will marry Sibyl Vane. She is very happy
and completely smitten. Her brother James is suspicious: he doesn’t like the gap between
their classes. He also worries about Sibyl as he is about to leave the country seeking his
fortune.
Henry and Basil go to the theatre with Dorian to watch Sybil act, but she performs terribly,
after Sibyl tells Dorian how she used to act to escape but doesn’t need to do that anymore.
She can’t act as she did before. Unfortunately that’s what Dorian loved about her, thus he
breaks off the engagement. When he gets home he finds a new line in Basil’s portrait: cruelty
can now be spotted in the face.
After he leaves Sybil commits suicide, Dorian is horrified to learn of her death the next day.
However Henry talks him into seeing it as something in the past, a learning experience.
Because of the change in the portrait Dorian locks it away so that no one will see it, after
having it locked away Dorian reads a note from Henry, which includes results from an
inquest done on Sybil’s death along with a French novel, he reads it the whole day becoming
highly influenced by it.
He enters into an extended period of self indulgence as the years pass, people tell stories
about his activities. Some of these are sensual, like spending money and gems on music.
Others then again are scandalous, immoral and illegal. However, few people really believe
these stories because he appears to retain his youthful innocence and beauty.
The eve of his 38th birthday he runs into Basil. He warns Dorian of the scandalous stories
circulating about him. He wishes he could say the stories are untrue but for that he would
need to see his soul when he says that only God can do that. Dorian says he keeps a journal of
his soul leading his friend to the portrait. Basil is horrified at the sight, Dorian reminds Basil
of the wish he had made so long ago. They talk about what the change means, Basil
concludes that Dorian's sins must be terrible for the painting to look like that. Overcome by a
wave of anger and loathing Dorian stabs Basil to death then contacts Alan Campbell a
scientist he used to be close with, he blackmails him into getting rid of Basil’s body.
Late that night Dorian goes to an opium den and gets recognised as prince charming, a sailor
(James Vane) hears this and goes after him. Dorian gets out of near death by showing James
his supernaturally youthful face, apologising James lets Dorian go. Once he is gone a woman
from the den says that it was indeed the same man.
A week later Dorian faints at a party when he sees James’ face in the window.Terrified he
stays home for three days before joining a group of hunters to shoot game. He walks with a
