Full summary and analysis of the first four chapters of Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' including a short synopsis, contextual notes, key quotes, and deep analysis of each chapter.
1. Lord Henry is visiting Basil Hallward who is completing a portrait (Dorian). Lord Henry
pushes to get Basil to exhibit it, but he refuses because it is too personal. Basil recounts the
first time he met Dorian, and how he now sees Dorian’s presence as vital to his artistic power.
Lord Henry wants to be introduced to Dorian, but Basil is dubious as Lord Henry is infamous
for his bad influence.
CONTEXT: The theme of Aestheticism is introduced, which championed pure beauty and ‘art
for art’s sake’. This emphasised the visual and sensual qualities of art and design over
morality. Wilde was an outspoken proponent of the Aesthetic Movement, he adopted the
words of Walter Pater ‘to burn with this hard gem-like flame to maintain his ecstasy, is
success in life’
QUOTES: ‘rich odour of roses’ ‘heavy scent of lilac’ ‘delicate perfume of the pink-flowering
thorn’ ‘fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted across the long tussore-silk curtains’ ‘the
dim roar of London was like the bourdon note of a distant organ’ ‘rugged strong face… coal
black hair… young Adonis’ ‘he is Narcissus’ ‘beautiful, brainless creature’ ‘I have given
away my whole soul for someone who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat’ ‘the
only way to get rid of temptation if to yield to it’
ANALYSIS: There is detailed descriptions of cultivated beauty, engaging all the senses and
setting the tone for an Aesthetic Movement novel. Scattered with juxtaposition ‘delicate’ and
‘thorn’, ‘dim’ and ‘roar’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘brainless’ which represents the blurred lines
between innocence and evil. There is also a semantic field of wealth with ‘silk’ ‘roses’
‘perfume’ and the mention of dandyism which emphasises this. Wilde himself was a famous
Victorian Dandy which makes the novel semi- autobiographical.
2. Basil wants Lord Henry to leave, but Dorian persuades him to stay while he sits for the
portrait. Lord Henry talks to Dorian about the pursuit of pleasure and tells him that his youth
and beauty are precious. Looking at the finished picture, Dorian wishes it could grow old in
his place, saying that he would give his soul for that. Dorian chooses to go to the theatre with
Lord Henry rather than dine with Basil.
CONTEXT: Allusions to lovesick Romeo, when describing Basil, who Wilde expressed was
like himself. Also, Basil and Lord Henry are reminiscent of the good and evil (Dr Faustus).
The descriptions of Dorian as Greek is euphemistic for being gay, Victorians would use the
phrase ‘he’s a bit Greek’
QUOTES: ‘He was so unlike Basil; they made a delightful contrast’ ‘the painter stared in
amazement’ ‘I shall stay with the real Dorian’ ‘the painter flung himself down on the sofa,
and a look of pain came into his face’ ‘the air of a young Greek martyr’
ANALYSIS: Basil is presented as weak and lovesick, in contrast to Lord Henry who has a very
strong, manipulative presence which links them to the good and evil angels from Dr Faustus
and many other morality novels. Basil is addressed as ‘the painter’ which firstly excludes him
from Dorian and Lord Henry (prestigious names) and portrays him as someone who can be
used – being a painter is his ‘master status’. Dorian connotes with Greek mythology, his
martyr status suggests his actions are rooted in hypocrisy.
3. Lord Henry learns about Dorian’s wayward mother and his brutal grandfather. He attends a
dinner where Dorian is present, and shows off his wit. Dorian leaves with Lord Henry, though
he has promised to visit Basil.
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