In the introduction to the novel, Oscar Wilde describes his understanding of Art. According to Wilde, art is something majestic, independent of life. And with all his text he proves his own theory, giving painting magic power. Of course, a brief retelling of the book in chapters will not be able to convey the fullness of his thoughts, but he conveys the plot absolutely accurately. And for “all the fullness of thought” you can turn to analysis of the work.
Chapter i
The story begins with the studio of Basil Hallward, an artist working on a portrait of a handsome young man. His interlocutor, Henry Wotton, who smokes cigarettes, discusses the mastery of the creator and the beauty of the depicted young man. Basil replies that this golden-haired handsome man is twenty-year-old Dorian Gray (here is his characteristic), which the painter admires, considering him his muse.
Hearing this, Lord Henry certainly wanted to get acquainted with this Apollo of beauty. What the artist categorically refuses: he fears the evil influence of his sophisticated friend on a virtuous young man. Basil's plans are interrupted by a footman reporting that Dorian Gray is waiting below. Now dating can not be avoided.
Chapter II
Meeting the young man, Henry instantly imbued with his extraordinary beauty. Dorian, in turn, listened to such attractive, but tempting, so beautiful, but paradoxical speeches of the Lord, with which Watton found the sitter’s soul. He showed Dorian the importance of beauty and youth, as well as their regrettable fragility.
Having finished the portrait, the artist shows it to Gray. But the only feeling that arises in Dorian is the envy of the portrait, because his hero will be forever young. Dorian also wants to maintain eternal youth. Bezil gives a portrait to a young man. The young handsome man himself agrees to the invitation of Lord Henry to go to the theater and leaves with him.
Chapter III
The next day, Lord Henry comes to his uncle Fermor with the intention of knowing the pedigree of Dorian Gray. The young man turned out to be a grandson of Kelso, his mother was a beauty - Margaret Devere. The richest men looked after her, but she ran away with some officer who did not have a penny for his soul. Father Margaret did not like this and, according to rumors, he had a duel in which they killed his beloved daughter. Less than a year later, the woman died, leaving behind a baby. Her son was to receive a rich inheritance. Wilton wanted to conquer Gray, enslave his soul, make him his puppet, and by half he had already succeeded.
Learning what was needed, Henry said goodbye to his uncle and went for breakfast to Aunt Agatha, where Dorian was also invited. Being late to the beginning, the lord comes and sits down at the table. During the meal, those present discussed numerous trendy trends in England. Henry Wotton himself - "Prince of Paradox" - captured the attention of listeners with his beautiful speeches, not releasing them to the very end. After breakfast, the Lord gathers in the Park and takes with him the requested Dorian Gray.
Chapter iv
The action takes place a month later. Dorian Gray is sitting in Lord Henry's library, waiting for himself. The young man whiled away while reading a book. Soon Lady Wotton enters the room. During their conversation, it becomes clear how much influence Lord Henry has on Gray. Dorian is expressed in the same words, thinks the same way he does.
Finally, Henry arrives, and the young man tells him about his love for the actress. He met her in a seedy theater, where he came by pure chance. Sibylla starred in the play Romeo and Juliet. Everything in this theater, from music to the play of characters, aroused disgust in the young man. But with the advent of Sibylla, the theater and the whole world was filled with new colors for him. He told Henry about her melodic voice, beauty and wonderful acting. About the nickname - "The Beautiful Prince", which Sybil gave to Gray. At the end of the conversation, Dorian persuades Lord Wotton to go with him and Basil to look at the girl on the stage. But, before their joint trip, Henry receives a telegram with the news of the engagement of the young couple.
Chapter v
Sibylla sits on her knees in front of her mother, telling her about her relationship with The Prince Charming. Mother, also an actress, is skeptical of their relationship, but, if only the young man is not rich. The daughter does not listen to her mother, completely immersed in dreams. The picture is interrupted by the heroine's incoming brother, James. On this day, he goes to earn money for the family, working as a sailor. She and her sister go for a walk, where the enthusiastic Sibylla told him about Dorian. But he only considered her a gullible simpleton. At one point, Dorian passes by, but James does not notice him and, in a fit of anger, screams that he will kill him in case of insult. Sibylla at first looked at him in horror, but then she forgave her brother, and they headed home.
Upon returning, James said goodbye to his sister and, giving his mother's instructions to take care of Sybil, packed his things and went to work.
Chapter vi
Restaurant "Birstol", a separate room with lunch for three. Lord Henry greets Basil as he arrives and informs him that Dorian is getting married. He initially does not believe him, believing that the young man is not so reckless. Finally, Dorian himself comes in, greets his friends and talks about last night, about Sybilla playing beautifully on stage, about their meeting behind the curtains and about the beautiful kiss of lovers.
Having a snack and discussing this topic, friends go to the theater. Right now, the artist understands that Dorian Gray has become completely different.
Chapter VII
Arriving, friends sat down in the ordered box, waiting for the appearance of Sibylla. When, finally, the performance began, and the girl in the role of Juliet took the stage, both friends emphasized her beauty. But she came out very badly, false. Henry and Basil left without completing the show. Shocked Dorian, waiting for the end of the play, went backstage to meet with the actress. She joyfully meets him and says that she cannot play as before because of her love for him. But the beloved replies that she ruined their love, calls her mediocrity and mediocrity. In response, Dorian hears pleas for forgiveness, but he leaves.
Gray spends the next hours in oblivion and returns home late. There he noticed something was wrong with the portrait - his face expressed cruelty, which had not happened before. At first, Dorian did not believe it, but then the words spoken by him at Basil awakened confidence in him. Closing the portrait, Gray pities Sybil. Dorian decided that the picture would be his conscience, he would do good deeds and not give in to temptation.
Chapter viii
The next day, Gray woke up late. A servant brought him letters and the young man, sorting them, came across one from Henry, without reading, he put it aside. Getting up, he noticed the picture and, having locked the doors, decided to check if it seemed to him that impossible, which he saw. Yes, he didn’t think so; the portrait really changed. This shocked the young man. The only consolation for him was that it pushed him to change for the better. He will do good deeds and marry Sybil.
But then unexpectedly, Lord Henry comes and tells the terrible news - Sybil Wayne committed suicide. Dorian’s suffering did not follow, which surprised him himself, prompted the thought of his heartlessness. But after talking with Henry, the young man became much better. Gray decides that the portrait will bear the burden of sin, while he himself with the same beautiful beauty has fun and enjoys life.
After the conversation, friends go to the opera.
Chapter IX
The next morning, Basil came to Dorian to comfort the young man after the incident. But, seeing Gray calm, he was surprised that the hero replied that there was nothing terrible and special in the incident, "the past is the past." Then, the artist, noting that the portrait was hidden, asked to look at his creation. But Gray forbade this. Basil told him of his desire to exhibit work in Paris. But initially the painter was against it, what has changed? And a friend told him.
Basil was afraid that in his work he revealed his soul, his life secret - the adoration of Dorian. But now he understood his mistake. Not having obtained permission to exhibit a portrait, the artist leaves.
Dorian, in turn, removes the picture, fearing that someone will be able to reveal his secret.
Chapter x
Dorian takes the key to the old room and orders the workers to deliver the portrait there without opening it. He himself makes sure that all of the above is done, and only then could exhale.
Going down, Dorian saw a newspaper and a book from Lord Henry. The article revealed the details of the death of Sibylla. Angry, the young man tears the newspaper and throws it away. But the book interested him. It was a sketch of a hero trying to survive the passions of bygone eras. The work took possession of the mind of a young man.
Chapter xi
Over the years, this book has dominated Dorian. A huge number of hobbies took hold of him: from church rites and robes to precious stones. The young man was also interested in portraits of his ancestors.
In London, dirty rumors began to appear about the personal life of a rich rake. They said that he was seen in a strange company of any rabble, that he was visiting obscene establishments. And although some did not like the young man, as soon as he looked at his beautiful and clean face, it became unclear to many how evil gossip could be spread about such a clean young man. And after all his deeds, Dorian liked to come and look at the portrait, his changes, and compare that face with his own.
Chapter xii
Basil is looking for a meeting with Dorian, comes to his house, but, without waiting, leaves. There is an accidental meeting on the street. Friends return to the house and discuss gossip about a young man hanging over London. The essence of gossip is the behavior and influence of Gray on his environment.
Basil is trying to get his friend into a frank conversation with the hope of seeing his soul. For Dorian, this causes an evil laugh, and in response he offers to go upstairs to the room where the portrait is stored.
Chapter xiii
Friends upstairs, Dorian opens the portrait. The sight seen causes horror in the artist: in the picture he saw an elderly and cruel man, vaguely reminiscent of a man standing next to him. Basil didn’t leave Basil, while Dorian, in turn, remained calm.
The portrait helps Basil make sure what he considered rumors. The truth about the diabolical essence of the sitter is revealed to the artist in an instant. Hallward is trying to turn Gray to God and pray, which makes the youth even more angry. The meeting of friends ends with Basil's death. Gray stabbed him several times.
Now it remains only to get rid of the evidence.
Chapter xiv
The next morning, Dorian writes two letters: one is addressed to a former friend Campbell, a chemist, and the second is simply put in his pocket. Thoughts about what happened do not leave the hero. Soon Alan arrives, as the text of the letter excited him very much.
Yesterday's killer calmly told what had happened and asked for help. It is necessary to get rid of the body. Campbell refuses to become part of the vile scam. Not even Dorian’s plea does not touch him. And then Gray launches a second letter, the contents of which can destroy the chemist.
Alan, accompanied by Dorian, goes upstairs. In the room where Basil’s body lies. Gray sees blood on the portrait’s hand and hides it from Alan’s eyes with a veil. The chemist is left alone with the dead man. His knowledge of chemistry and nitric acid did their job: the body disappeared.
Chapter xv
In the evening, Dorian visits Lady Narborough. He is tense, but with all his appearance he is trying to seem dull. Only Lord Henry, through his conversations and wit, distracts Gray from heavy thoughts.
Fear returned to the hero when he arrived home. What to do? Get rid of the remaining evidence. Gray burns Basil's coat and bag.
Near midnight, Dorian leaves the house in a cab.
Chapter xvi
Dorian decides to kill the past, forgetting everything. Life, with its reckless revelry and baseness, excited Gray's imagination even more than art. The young man hurries to the stash, where he is feeling better.
A new danger awaited the exit of the Dorian brothel. Sibylla's brother decided to avenge the death of his sister. He recognizes the young man by hearing the phrase "Prince Charming". And only the magic of the portrait saves Gray's life: he looks too young for the “killer” of Sibylla, who died eighteen years ago.
The deception was revealed, but it was already too late: the culprit escaped.
Chapter xvii
Doriana is visited by guests at his estate, including Lord Henry. The guests are having fun, and Gray, wanting to please the lady, goes to the greenhouse for a bouquet.
But then people hear a moan and a strange sound. Everyone is scared. Lord Wotton is the first to see Dorian unconscious. Soon, Gray woke up and remembered that outside the window of the greenhouse he saw the face of Sibylla's brother, James Wayne. The desperate fun took possession of the young men.
Chapter xviii
Dorian does not leave the house for fear of meeting Wayne. Gradually, Gray convinces himself that it was just a ghost. On the third day, the young man walks with the Duchess Clauston, and then goes to the park, to the place of the upcoming hunt. He is walking with the duchess’s brother, and suddenly their attention is attracted by an unexpectedly jumping hare. The hero asks not to kill him, but in response he hears only a shot, followed by the cry of the beast and the groan of a man.
After some time, Gray learns that the murdered one is a sailor, James Wayne. Seeing the dead man, Dorian realizes that he is saved.
Chapter XIX
Gray decides to follow the path of spiritual correction, and he shares his thoughts with Henry. It seems to Dorian that the girl blamed by him is the first step. But the lord objects that breaking a heart cannot be corrected. The topic of conversation is changing, and friends are discussing Basil's disappearance. The hero is trying to find out the opinion of Henry about his alleged involvement in the death of the artist. The Lord does not believe that Gray is capable of killing.
After some time, Henry pays attention to the fact that the appearance of Dorian has not undergone changes over time. Gray exclaims that he no longer wants to live like that, and leaves.
Chapter xx
Dorian feels that he ruined his soul and adversely affected various people. Previously, he asked heaven for eternal youth and thereby ruined his own life. Gray came up with the idea that the recent case of an unspoiled girl should change the portrait for the better.
The young man above, in front of him is a picture, but nothing has changed, the image, on the contrary, was the most disgusting. Our hero understands that the act with the girl was dictated by vanity or a thirst for new sensations. Thoughts about the portrait do not leave Gray; he is afraid that someone will spy on his secret. What to do? Destroy the picture, which means your conscience and the whole past.
Dorian stabs a portrait with a knife. Scream. Servants approached the room and began to call their master. No one answered the knock. Servants entered the room through the balcony. On the wall was a portrait of a young man, as they had seen him recently, on the floor lay an old shabby body with a withered and vicious face. Only the rings on the man’s hands indicated that it was Dorian Gray.
Blue ocean strategy
