"The Picture of Dorian Gray" By OSCAR WILDE
In London, the well-known artist Basil Hallward meets Dorian
Gray. Dorian is a wealthy, beautiful young man who captures Basil’s artistic
imagination. Dorian sits for several portraits, and Basil depicts him on the
canvas. Basil completes the first portrait of Dorian. Lord Henry is a friend of
Basil claims that the portrait is Basil’s masterpiece. Dorian arrives at the studio,
and Basil introduces him to Lord Henry. Lord Henry upsets Dorian with a speech
about the nature of beauty and youth. Worried that these, his beauty is fading
day by day, Dorian curses his portrait, which he believes will one day remind
him of the beauty he will have lost. Lord Henry owns the portrait; however,
Basil insists the portrait belongs to Dorian.
Over the next few weeks, Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian grows stronger. Dorian proposes to live a life dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure. He falls in love with Sibyl Vane, a young actress who performs in a theater in London’s slums. He adores her acting; she, in turn, refers to him as “Prince Charming” and refuses to listen the warnings of her brother, James Vane, that Dorian is not good for her. Sibyl decides that she can no longer act, wondering how she can pretend to love on the stage now that she has experienced the real thing. Dorian, who loves Sibyl because of her ability to act, cruelly breaks his engagement with her. After doing so, he returns home to notice that his face in Basil’s portrait of him has changed: it now sneers or frowns. Frightened that his sins will be recorded on the canvas, he resolves to make amends with Sibyl the next day. The following afternoon, however, Lord Henry brings news that Sibyl has killed herself. At Lord Henry’s urging, Dorian decides to consider her death a sort of tragedy and put the matter behind him. Meanwhile, Dorian hides his portrait in a remote room of his house, where no one other than he can watch its changes.
Lord Henry gives Dorian a book that describes the wicked exploits of a nineteenth-century Frenchman; it becomes Dorian’s bible as he sinks ever deeper into a life of sin and corruption.
Eighteen years pass. Dorian’s reputation suffers in circles of polite London society, where rumors spread regarding his scandalous exploits. The figure in the painting, however, grows increasingly hideous. On a dark, foggy night, Basil arrives at Dorian’s home to confront him about the rumors that destroy his reputation. The two argue, and Dorian eventually offers Basil a look at his (Dorian’s) soul. He shows Basil the now-hideous portrait, and Basil begs him to repent. Dorian claims it is too late for repentance and kills Basil in anger.
In order to dispose of the body, Dorian takes the help of a friend, a doctor, whom he blackmails. The night after the murder, Dorian makes his way to an opium den, where he meets James Vane, who attempts to avenge Sibyl’s death. Dorian escapes to his country estate. While entertaining guests, he notices James Vane looking in through a window, and he becomes fearful and guilty. When a hunting party accidentally shoots and kills Vane, Dorian feels safe again. He resolves to amend his life but cannot have the courage to confess his crimes, and the painting now reveals his supposed desire to repent for what it is—hypocrisy. In an anger, Dorian picks up the knife he used to stab Basil and attempts to destroy the painting. There is a crash sound, and his servants enter to find the portrait, unharmed, showing Dorian Gray as a beautiful young man. On the floor lies the body of their master—an old man, horribly wrinkled and disfigured, with a knife plunged into his heart.
Probably the picture would have remain the same from day one but Dorian's sins would have started to be shown onto the portrait
Over the next few weeks, Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian grows stronger. Dorian proposes to live a life dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure. He falls in love with Sibyl Vane, a young actress who performs in a theater in London’s slums. He adores her acting; she, in turn, refers to him as “Prince Charming” and refuses to listen the warnings of her brother, James Vane, that Dorian is not good for her. Sibyl decides that she can no longer act, wondering how she can pretend to love on the stage now that she has experienced the real thing. Dorian, who loves Sibyl because of her ability to act, cruelly breaks his engagement with her. After doing so, he returns home to notice that his face in Basil’s portrait of him has changed: it now sneers or frowns. Frightened that his sins will be recorded on the canvas, he resolves to make amends with Sibyl the next day. The following afternoon, however, Lord Henry brings news that Sibyl has killed herself. At Lord Henry’s urging, Dorian decides to consider her death a sort of tragedy and put the matter behind him. Meanwhile, Dorian hides his portrait in a remote room of his house, where no one other than he can watch its changes.
Lord Henry gives Dorian a book that describes the wicked exploits of a nineteenth-century Frenchman; it becomes Dorian’s bible as he sinks ever deeper into a life of sin and corruption.
Eighteen years pass. Dorian’s reputation suffers in circles of polite London society, where rumors spread regarding his scandalous exploits. The figure in the painting, however, grows increasingly hideous. On a dark, foggy night, Basil arrives at Dorian’s home to confront him about the rumors that destroy his reputation. The two argue, and Dorian eventually offers Basil a look at his (Dorian’s) soul. He shows Basil the now-hideous portrait, and Basil begs him to repent. Dorian claims it is too late for repentance and kills Basil in anger.
In order to dispose of the body, Dorian takes the help of a friend, a doctor, whom he blackmails. The night after the murder, Dorian makes his way to an opium den, where he meets James Vane, who attempts to avenge Sibyl’s death. Dorian escapes to his country estate. While entertaining guests, he notices James Vane looking in through a window, and he becomes fearful and guilty. When a hunting party accidentally shoots and kills Vane, Dorian feels safe again. He resolves to amend his life but cannot have the courage to confess his crimes, and the painting now reveals his supposed desire to repent for what it is—hypocrisy. In an anger, Dorian picks up the knife he used to stab Basil and attempts to destroy the painting. There is a crash sound, and his servants enter to find the portrait, unharmed, showing Dorian Gray as a beautiful young man. On the floor lies the body of their master—an old man, horribly wrinkled and disfigured, with a knife plunged into his heart.
Probably the picture would have remain the same from day one but Dorian's sins would have started to be shown onto the portrait
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