The Picture of Dorian Gray - Book Summary
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Read our free study guide at www.gradesaver...
The Picture of Dorian Gray is the first and only novel written by Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde. The story can be described as “Faustian,” as it follows a man who trades the purity of his soul for undying youth. In the novel, Dorian becomes obsessed with his image after posing for a portrait painting. Overwhelmed by the fear that the youth and beauty captured in the portrait will fade, Dorian passionately wishes for the picture to age and for him to remain as he is captured. Dorian’s wish comes true, but he soon finds that the portrait records each of the sins he commits over time. Ultimately, Dorian is driven to madness as he tries to reconcile the bodily decay recorded in his portrait.
The story begins on a beautiful summer day in 19th century Victorian London. Basil Hallward, a respected and reclusive painter, entertains his aristocratic friend, Lord Henry Wotton, at his home. The two admire a portrait that Basil is working on, and their discussion turns towards the sitter, a handsome and charming young man named Dorian Gray. Lord Henry insists on meeting Basil’s muse, but he refuses, hoping to shield the innocent boy from Lord Henry’s cynicism. Much to the painter’s chagrin, Basil’s butler announces that Dorian has arrived unexpectedly.
Upon their introduction, Lord Henry is immediately enraptured by Dorian’s charm and good looks. Lord Henry, who is particularly opinionated and persuasive, begins talking to Dorian about the ephemerality of beauty. Dorian is horrified by the idea that someday his beauty will fade.
When Basil shows Dorian his completed portrait, Dorian is overcome with horror by his realization that he will not look like he appears in the portrait forever. Influenced by his discussion with Lord Henry, Dorian exclaims that he would “give his soul” in order for himself to remain young while his picture grows old. Shocked by the young man’s reaction, Basil grabs a knife and moves to destroy the painting. Dorian stops him, declaring such an act would be murder. Basil then vows to give Dorian the painting as a gift.
A month later, Dorian visits Lord Henry in order to tell him some news. Dorian has fallen in love with an outstanding actress named Sibyl Vane, who performs in Shakespearean plays that are put on by a lower class theater troupe. Dorian proposes to an enthusiastic Sibyl, the bride’s family has their reservations--Sibyl’s mother is hesitant to allow her daughter to wed an upper class man because the family is plagued by their own financial issues. Meanwhile, Sibyl’s younger brother, James, is suspicious of Dorian’s intentions and vows to murder anyone who puts his sister in harm’s way.
Dorian invites Lord Henry and Basil to watch Sibyl perform in Romeo and Juliet. Lord Henry is swiftly judgmental, and he mocks the “low class” behavior of the theater goers. To everyone’s surprise, Sibyl performs terribly. The performance is unbearable to sit through, and Lord Henry and Basil leave an embarrassed Dorian alone in the theater. Following the performance, Dorian confronts Sibyl and expresses his disgust. She tells him that she was unable to perform “being in love” when she feels so strongly enamored with Dorian. Dorian reacts to Sybil’s compliment rather callously, leaving the theater in a huff. When he returns home, he finds that Basil’s portrait of him now bears a “touch of cruelty in the mouth.”
The following day, Lord Henry arrives at Dorian’s residence unannounced. Dorian tells his friend about his intention to reconcile with his fiancée, but Lord Henry informs Dorian that he is too late--Sibyl has killed herself with poison following their fight. Lord Henry advises Dorian to maintain a low profile so that he is not a suspect in Sibyl’s death. Basil then visits Dorian and is aghast to learn that Dorian appears unmoved by Sibyl’s suicide. Basil notices that the portrait he has painted of Dorian is now covered. Basil inquires a bit about the portrait, but Dorian finds the questions invasive. Dorian decides to lock the covered painting in the attic for the foreseeable future.
Read the full summary at www.gradesaver...
Rip basil, you would’ve loved call me by your name
Rip dorian you would have loved mewing and looksmaxxing
He was so non shalont
this feels like a straight up twilight zone episode
So... Dorian Gray is DIO. It all checks out! ZA WARUDO
Painting to Dorian: "Oh? You're approaching me?"
Fantastic!! You released this at the perfect time. I'll be writing an exam soon!
Perfect timing!
Ain't you too old 👀
english paper 2 in the morning🙏🙏
Thank you for summarising these excellent works of literature in a way that is both fun and easy to understand/learn. I truly appreciate it. Please keep uploading more such educational videos. Thank you!
Can you plz do a summary of the secret garden
We'll put it in the suggestion box!
can you do one on the jungle by Upton Sinclair
Lord and Dorian were bisexuals. No doubt.
Not everything has to be about sexual degeneracy
@@mattlagassa9084 True but this book s definitely about chaotic bisexuals
@@lifesbetterwithaphd2026 well, it is about Pride (the deadliest of the 7 deadly sins) so…
@@mattlagassa9084happy pride month lmaoooooo. Ironic, no?
Basil was a bottom
Can you do a summary of Anabella by Magdalena Jaladoni Philippine lit this time, please❤️
0:10 it can be described as what?
faustian
From the story of Faust
Thank you sooo much for this!!!
hello. what application do you use to make your animations in videos?
Premiere... FCP... whatever's available. :)
OMORI OMORI OMORI OMORI OMORI
well i mean:
sunny-dorian, both basically ended someones life but either a. in sybils case dhe takes hete life after dorian insults her (dorians fault for her death/ sunny killing mari and framing it as a suicide) and b. in basils case just straight up murder lol.
basil-basil (obviously) both have obsessive traits towards people they care abt, plus basil being killed by dorian kinda constrats the fact that basil tried to kill sunny.
sybil-mari, the whole suicide/franed suicide thing and the fact it would ve dorian and sunny’s first crime in a way, and causes the major change in both of them (the portrait cahnging/sunny’s depression, becoming a hikikomori and creating headspace)
also im pretty
sure in tbe demo of omori or smth theres a room with books written by oscar wilde
❤❤❤
Can you do the summary of Anabella by Magdalena Jaladoni Philippine Lit. this time. Thank you❤️❤️
OMORI OMORI OMORI OMORI
Hi! Can I have the link of the full transcripts? thanks a lot
The transcript can be found here! www.gradesaver.com/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/study-guide/video-the-picture-of-dorian-gray
Pls idk why but the link is not working 😢