The Picture of Dorian Gray - Summary

Introduction

Overview of the novel by Oscar Wilde.
Focus on context, author background, plot summary, chapter breakdown, and key themes.

Oscar Wilde: Born in Dublin (1854), known for wit and flamboyance.
- Notable works include plays and poetry.
- Advocate of Asceticism - art's purpose to provide beauty.
Context of Writing:
- First published in 1890, censored for morality.
- Gained notoriety for its themes and was perceived as offensive.
Personal Life: Wilde's relationship with Lord Alfred Douglass influenced the themes in Dorian Gray.
- Lived a double life, faced legal troubles for his sexuality, leading to imprisonment.

Setting: London, begins in the studio of Basil Hallward.
Main Characters:
- Dorian Gray: Young man who wishes to remain young and beautiful.
- Basil Hallward: Artist who paints Dorian's portrait, symbolizes obsession and idolatry.
- Lord Henry Wotton: Influential figure promoting hedonism and moral relativism.
Initial Conflict: Dorian expresses a desire for eternal youth, leading to a Faustian pact.

Influence of Lord Henry: Dorian is seduced by Henry's hedonistic views.
Love for Sibyl Vane: Dorian falls for actress Sibyl but is repulsed by her inability to act due to love.
Sibyl's Suicide: After Dorian rejects her, Sibyl takes her life, impacting Dorian's portrait.
Dorian's Transformation: He indulges in excess and corruption, as reflected in the degrading portrait.
Murder of Basil: Dorian kills Basil after revealing the grotesque portrait, marking his moral decline.
The Yellow Book: Represents Dorian's descent into moral ambiguity and hedonism.
Final Confrontation: Dorian attempts to amend his life but ultimately fails, leading to his demise.

Chapter 1: Introduction of Basil and Lord Henry; painting of Dorian is discussed.
Chapter 2: Dorian meets Lord Henry; influences begin.
Chapter 3: Background on Dorian's family.
Chapter 4-10: Dorian's relationship with Sibyl, her decline, and impacts on his portrait.
Chapters 11-14: Dorian embraces a life of excess, kills Basil, and blackmails Campbell.
Chapters 15-19: Dorian's double life, encounters with James Vane, and feelings of guilt.
Chapter 20: Dorian attempts to destroy the portrait and faces his ultimate fate.

Youth and Beauty: Central to the narrative; Dorian's fixation leads to his downfall.
Superficiality: The society values appearances over morality.
Purpose of Art: Explores the role of art in society; Wilde challenges Victorian morality.

The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity, hedonism, and moral corruption.