A Level English Literature Notes:
Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Indicative Content:
- Summary and analysis of each of the chapters
- AO1, AO2, AO3
- At points, AO4 has been noted in comparison to Dorian Gray
- Themes, motifs, Allusions, Context
- Further research
- + more
*Note: These notes are original, containing my own thoughts and analysis. However, I am
thankful for the support, knowledge and guidance from my two A Level teachers and my
classmates who encouraged and inspired me throughout my A Levels, helping me to achieve
my A*. I hope these notes are of help to you when your making your own analysis . Good
Luck!
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,Summary:
Chapter one:
- Begins in the London home of Basil Hallward, a well—known artist. Basil discusses
his latest portrait with his friend, the clever and scandalously amoral Lord Henry
Wotton. Lord Henry admires the painting, the subject of which is a gorgeous, golden-
haired young man. Believing it to be Basil’s finest work, he insists that the painter
exhibits it. However, Basil refuses, claiming that he cannot show the work publicly
because he has put too much of himself into it. When Lord Henry presses him for a
more satisfying reason, Basil reluctantly describes how he met his young subject,
whose name is Dorian Gray, at a party. Upon seeing Dorian for the first time, he
admits that he was terrified; indeed, he was overcome by the feeling that his life was
“on the verge of a terrible crisis.” Dorian has become, however, an object of
fascination and obsession for Basil admits he cannot bring himself to exhibit the
portrait because the piece betrays the “curious artistic idolatry” that Dorian inspires in
him.
- Lord Henry, astonished but this declaration, remembers where he heard the name
Dorian Gray before: his aunt, Lady Agatha, mentioned that the young man promised
to help her with charity work in the slums of London. At that moment, the butler
announces that Dorian Gray has arrived, and Lord Henry insists on meeting him.
Basil reluctantly agrees but begs his friend not to try to influence the young man.
According to Basil, Dorian has a “simple and a beautiful nature” that could easily be
spoiled by Lord Henry’s cynicism.
Chapter Two:
- Dorian Gray proves to be every bit as handsome as his portrait. Basil introduces him
to Lord Henry, and Dorian begs Lord Henry to stay and talk to him while he sits for
Basil. Basil warns Dorian that Lord Henry is a bad influence, and Dorian seems
intrigued by this idea. While Basil puts the finishing touches on the portrait, Lord
Henry agrees to stay and discusses his personal philosophy, which holds that “the
highest of all duties is the duty that one owes to one’s self”. While Basil continues to
work, Lord Henry escorts Dorian into the garden, where he praises Dorian’s youth
and beauty and warns him how surely and quickly these qualities will fade. He urges
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, Dorian to live life to its fullest to spend his time “always searching for new
sensations” rather than devoting himself to “common” or “vulgar” pastimes.
- Basil calls the men inside, and Dorian sits for another quarter of an hour until the
portrait is complete. It is a thing of remarkable beauty - “the finest portrait of modern
time.” Lord Henry tells Basil – but looking at it makes Dorian unhappy.
Remembering Lord Henry’s warning about the advance of age, he reflects that his
portrait will remain young as he himself grows old and wrinkled. He curses this fate
and pledges his soul “if it were only the other way” Basil tries to comfort the young
man, but Dorian pushes him away. Declaring that he will not allow the painting to
ruin their friendship. Basil makes a move to destroy it. Dorian stops him, saying that
he loves the painting, and a relieved Basil promises, despite Basil’s objections, to go
to the theatre with Lord Henry later that evening.
Chapter 3:
- Shortly after his first meeting with Dorian Gray, Lord Henry visits his uncle, Lord
Fermor, a “genial if somewhat rough-mannered" old nobleman. When Lord Henry
asks his uncle about Dorian Gray’s past, the old man tells him that Dorian comes from
an unhappy family with a dark, tangled history. He relates that Dorian’s mother,
nobleman, eloped with a poor soldier; the woman’s farther, a villainous old lord,
arranged to have his daughter’s husband killed just before Dorian was born. The
grieving widow died soon thereafter, leaving Dorian to be raised by a loveless tyrant.
With this information, Lord Henry becomes increasingly fascinated with Dorian; he
finds the story romantic and delights in the thought that he might influence the young
man, making “that wonderful spirit his own”.
- Shortly thereafter, Lord Henry goes to dine at the home of his aunt, Lady Henry goes
to dine at the home of his aunt, Lady Agatha, where several of London’s elite upper
class – Dorian included – have gathered. Lord Henry scandalizes the group by going
on at length about the virtues of hedonism and selfishness and mocking his aunt’s
philanthropic efforts. “I can sympathize with everything”, he remarks at one point,
“except suffering.” He insists that one’s life should be spent appreciating beauty and
seeking out pleasure rather than searching for ways to alleviate pain and tragedy.
Many of the guests are appalled by his selfishness, but he is so clever and witty that
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, they are charmed in spite of themselves. Dorian Gray is particularly fascinated, so
much so that he leaves with Lord Henry and abandons his earlier plans to visit Basil.
Chapter 4:
- One month later, while waiting in Lord Henry’s home for his host to arrive, Dorian
discusses music with Lord Henry’s wife, Victoria. When Lord Henry arrives, Dorian
rushes to him, eager to share the news that he has fallen in love. The girl, he reports, is
Sibyl Vane, an actress who plays Shakespeare’s heroines in repertoire in a cheap
London theatre. Dorian admits to discovering her while wandering through the slums:
inspired by Lord Henry’s advice to “know everything about life” he had entered a
playhouse. Despite the tawdriness of the locale and his disdain for the theatre owner,
Dorian decided that the star, Sibyl Vane, was the finest actress he had ever seen. After
several trips to the theatre, the owner insisted that Dorian meet Ms. Vane, who, awed
by the attentions of such a handsome gentleman, declared that she would refer to him
as “prince charming” Lord Henry, amused by this development, agrees to accompany
Dorian to see Sibyl Vane play the lead in Romeo and Juliet the following night. Basil
is to join them, and Dorian remarks that Basil sent him his portrait, framed, a few
days earlier.
- After Dorian leaves, Lord Henry muses on his influence over the young man,
reflecting on how fascinating the psychology of another human being can be. He then
dresses and goes out to dinner. He comes home late that night and finds a telegram
from Dorian waiting for him. It states that he is engaged to be married to Sibyl Vane.
Chapter 5:
- At the Vane household, Sibyl Vane is deliriously happy over her romance with Dorian
Gray. Mrs Vane, her mother, is less enthusiastic, and she alternately worries over
Dorian’s intentions and hope that her daughter will benefit from his obvious wealth.
Sibyl’s brother, James, is also rather cautious regarding the match. As a sailor
preparing to depart for Australia, James arrives to say his good-byes and warns his
mother that she must watch over Sibyl. Mrs Vane assures him that admires such as
Dorian Gray are not uncommon to actresses, and that there is no reason not to
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