The Picture of Dorian Gray - Book Summary

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.

[leet]

Rip basil, you would’ve loved call me by your name

[rounakkundu]

Rip dorian you would have loved mewing and looksmaxxing

[JacF]

RIP Dorian Gray, you would have loved the Substance

[fatmaprice]

rip Dorian Gray he would have love saying “who is this DIVA 💜

[jf]

this feels like a straight up twilight zone episode

[Orangessslyfe]

RIP Dorian Gray, you would have loved plastic surgery

[LostMatcha]

I'm in my mid twenties just finished this book but you got the end wrong a little bit. The knife is the same one as he used to kill Basil and it's extremely clean and shiny. It says in the book Dorian Cleaned it himself multiple times.

[alicianelson]

Girl: I’m so in love with you I couldn’t act being in love with someone else
Dorian: oh piss off acting is all that matters

[dikafei]

So... Dorian Gray is DIO. It all checks out! ZA WARUDO

[YolanderNokuthula]

Fantastic!! You released this at the perfect time. I'll be writing an exam soon!

[nyk-]

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!

[MrShahin]

I think it would have added to the horror if Wilde had intimated or teased that when Dorian stabbed his portrait at the end, his soul was somehow banished to the portrait itself and imprisoned thereafter for eternity - perhaps when his servants came in and the portrait tried to blink at them or such, but it remained frozen - that would have been a terrifying end

[nikosaurr]

Why are the comments filled with brainrot im crying 😭😭😭

[Goosebuer]

5:38 dorin crash out needs to be studied 😭

[danielsocar]

The ending is wrong. The knife was clean and shiny

[Void-xynb]

I have read up to 5:50 so thats where Im stopping for now. See ya again😊

[petrask]

I forgot to read the book and I have to do a presentation tmrrw on this so ty lol 😂

[-welp-]

James: CURSE YOU, DORIAN. I HEREBY VOW

[inkheritage]

hello. what application do you use to make your animations in videos?

[burnerdaughter]

You can pick up on the subtext a bit through this (excellent!) summary, but you gotta read the narrative, it is steamy af