5th Block
10/22/12
Independent Novel Study
Guide
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
STUDY GUIDE
Plot Line
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Well-known artist Basil Hallward meets Dorian Gray, a wealthy and impossibly beautiful young
man who captures Basil’s artistic imagination; Basil paints Dorian
Basil admits to his friend Lord Henry Wotton that his paintings of Dorian disappoint him because
they reveal too much of his feeling for his subject
Lord Henry is well-known for his witty personality and enjoys scandal by promoting youth,
beauty, and pleasure
Basil reluctantly introduces Dorian to Lord Henry - he fears Henry will have a damaging influence
on Dorian
Lord Henry upsets Dorian with a speech about the nature of beauty and youth; Dorian lets Lord
Henry’s words sink in and worries that his beauty will die soon, and so he curses his portrait
(believes the portrait will one day remind him of the beauty he lost)
In a fit of distress, he pledges his soul if only the painting could bear the burden of age and infamy,
allowing him to stay forever young.
Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian grows stronger; proposes living a life dedicated to the pursuit
of pleasure.
Dorian falls in love with Sibyl Vane, a young actress; he adores her acting; she refers to him as
“Prince Charming” and refuses to listen to her brother James’ warnings that Dorian is bad for her
Sibyl decides that she can no longer act because she is too in love with Dorian; he actually only
loves her because of her ability to act, so he cruelly breaks his engagement with her; Sibyl commits
suicide
After that he returns home to notice that his face in Basil’s portrait of him has his face sneering
Lord Henry gives Dorian a book that becomes his bible – leads him to sin further
Eighteen years pass; Dorian’s reputation suffers but he is still accepted because he remains young
and beautiful.
Figure in the painting grows increasingly hideous
Basil visits Dorian’s home one night to confront him about the rumors; the two argue and Dorian
eventually offers Basil a look at his picture (his soul); Basil is in shock and begs Dorian to pray for
forgiveness
Dorian claims it is too late kills Basil in rage
Dorian gets help disposing of the body from an estranged doctor friend that he blackmails
The night after the murder Dorian goes to an opium den where he sees James Vane who attempts
to avenge Sibyl’s death; Dorian escapes to his country estate
Dorian throws party one night, and notices James Vane peering in through a window; becomes
wracked by fear and guilt
Hunting party accidentally shoots and kills Vane: Dorian feels safe again
Dorian resolves to amend his life but cannot confess his crimes; painting now reveals his hypocrisy
In a fury Dorian picks up a knife and attempts to destroy the painting; his servants hear a crash and
find the portrait unharmed (and returned back to Dorian being beautiful); on the floor is an old
disfigured man with a knife in his heart
Character List
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Basil Hallward – painter; befriends Dorian but becomes obsessed with him; paints the picture
that represents Dorian’s soul; introduces Lord Henry to
Lord Henry Wotton – notorious for dazzling personality and immoral views; influences Dorian
for the worse
Dorian Gray - physically beautiful young man, good-hearted until corrupted by vanity; makes a
bargain that if his body remains young and beautiful his portrait can change; eventually brings
corruption, pain, and death to social circles
Lord George Fermor - Henry Wotton's uncle; Henry calls on him to elicit information about
Dorian's background; typically self-centered, represents aristocratic society
Sybil Vane - beautiful, 17-year-old Shakespearean actress who is Dorian's first love; the two
become engaged until Dorian sees her perform badly and treats her with extreme cruelty.
Broken-hearted, she commits suicide
James Vane - Sibyl's younger and protective brother, leaves England to become a sailor;
suspicious of Dorian from the beginning; after Sibyl's death dedicates himself to finding
Dorian; is eventually killed by a wayward hunting bullet
Adrian Singleton - promising young member of society whose life takes a turn for the worse
when he befriends Dorian; ends up addicted to opium, spending all of his time and money in
drug dens
Alan Campbell - talented chemist and musician who is close to Dorian until their friendship
comes to a bitter end because of Dorian’s reputation; Dorian forces him to assist in the disposal
of Basil's body using blackmail; later commits suicide
Duchess of Monmouth - clever and pretty young aristocrat who nearly matches Lord Henry in
conversational wit; freely and lightly admits to numerous adulterous affairs; flirts with Dorian
Hetty Merton - beautiful young village girl who falls in love with Dorian and reminds him of
Sybil Vane; Dorian consciously refrains from corrupting her in an attempt to begin living a
good life
Major Themes
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The Influence of Art
The Dominance of Youth
Cultural Appropriation of Beauty
Societal Judgment
Peer Pressure/ Influence
Chain Reaction of Poor Choices