The Picture of Dorian Gray

Synopsis

'The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.' When Dorian Gray has his portrait painted, he is captivated by his own beauty. Tempted by his world-weary, decadent friend Lord Henry Wotton, he wishes to stay forever young, and pledges his very soul to keep his good looks. Set in fin-de-siécle London, the novel traces a path from the studio of painter Basil Hallward to the opium dens of the East End. As Dorian's slide into crime and cruelty progresses he stays magically youthful, while his beautiful portrait changes, revealing the hideous corruption of moral decay. Ever since its first publication in 1890 Wilde's only novel has remained the subject of critical controversy. Acclaimed by some as an instructive moral tale, it has been denounced by others for its implicit immorality. Combining elements of the supernatural, aestheticism, and the Gothic, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an unclassifiable and uniquely unsettling work of fiction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Summary

Chapter 1:

* Introduces Lord Henry Wotton, a sophisticated hedonist who becomes Dorian Gray's mentor.
* Describes Dorian, a young man of extraordinary beauty.
* Wotton convinces Dorian that beauty is the only true value in life.

Chapter 2:

* Dorian meets Basil Hallward, a talented artist who paints a portrait of him.
* Wotton admires the portrait and makes Dorian realize the fleeting nature of his beauty.
* Dorian wishes that the portrait would age instead of him.

Chapter 3:

* Dorian's portrait is unveiled, revealing its incredible beauty.
* Wotton introduces Dorian to the decadent society of London.
* Dorian begins to indulge in a life of pleasure and excess.

Chapter 4:

* Dorian kills his lover, Sibyl Vane, after she rejects him.
* The murder leaves no mark on his body, but it corrupts his soul.
* The portrait begins to reflect his inner ugliness.

Chapter 5:

* Dorian becomes obsessed with the portrait and tries to hide it from others.
* He meets James Vane, Sibyl's brother, who seeks revenge for her death.
* Dorian escapes Vane's pursuit by fleeing to Paris.

Chapter 6:

* Dorian lives a life of debauchery in Paris.
* His portrait becomes increasingly grotesque, reflecting his sins.
* He realizes that his youthful beauty and innocence are gone forever.

Chapter 7:

* Dorian returns to London and confronts Wotton about the curse of the portrait.
* Wotton mocks Dorian's regrets and insists that he cannot escape his fate.
* Dorian attempts to destroy the portrait, but it remains unharmed.

Chapter 8:

* Dorian kills Basil after the artist discovers the portrait and tries to expose him.
* The portrait becomes even more disfigured, reflecting Dorian's increasing depravity.

Chapter 9:

* Dorian seeks redemption by spending time with a young innocent woman, Hetty Merton.
* However, he cannot resist his dark impulses and ends up corrupting her.
* Hetty's brother kills himself in despair, and Dorian feels guilty for his actions.

Chapter 10:

* Dorian descends into madness and becomes a recluse.
* He eventually decides to destroy the portrait, hoping to break the curse.
* As he stabs the portrait, he dies instantly.
* The portrait returns to its original beauty, while Dorian's body ages and decays.