The Picture Of Dorian Gray

Universidad Autónoma Popular de Veracruz

Sintesis del libro: The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Maestro: Ramón

Alumna: Gabriela Huerta Muñoz

Grado: 3er cuatrimestre de la Lic. en Inglés

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Vo.Bo.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE

CHAPTER 1:

In this chapter Lord Henry Wotton and his friend Basil Hallward go inside a luxurious studio and they are amazed by Mr. Howard’s last masterpiece, he is an artist and he has painted the picture of a very handsome man , it happens to be Mr. Dorian Gray

Henry starts to get obsessed with Mr. Gray; he wants to know more about him

The friends go out into the garden, and Henry announces that he has to leave. Before he goes, though, he asks one more question: why won't he exhibit Dorian's portrait?

Basil protests that he already told Lord Henry the real reason. He explains further, that it's not the sitter that the portrait reveals, but the artist himself. Basil is afraid that showing the picture would reveal a secret.

Basil then relates how he met Dorian at a party at Lady Brandon's. As he chatted with various boring nobles, he realized someone was looking at him someone so fascinating that it terrified him.

He tried to leave, but Lady Brandon grabbed him. He suddenly found himself face to face with the handsome young man who scared him: it's Dorian Gray.

Lord Henry remarks that it's amazing that Basil now cares for something more than his art, but Basil insists that Dorian is his art now; apparently, meeting Dorian has changed the whole way he sees the world, Basil thinks Dorian likes him, but isn't sure. Lord Henry remembers that he's heard the name Dorian Gray before, from his Aunt Agatha.

Suddenly Mr. Dorian arrives and they go to meet him.

CHAPTER 2:

In this chapter both friends return inside and they find Mr. Dorian playing the piano, they get introduced and then Henry and Mr. Dorian start chatting for a while and Basil gets jealous so he asked Henry to leave. But Dorian raises a fuss begs him to stay. Basil gives in and allows Henry to stay, but warns Dorian (not entirely jokingly) not to listen to everything Henry says, since he's a bad influence over everyone except Basil himself.

Basil starts painting Dorian and as he poses for the painting Basil, who's wrapped up in his painting, notices a new look in the boy's face for the first time. Dorian gets back into picture pose, and Basil continues his work – soon enough, he's actually done with the painting. Henry comes over to admire it exuberantly, and calls Dorian over.

Dorian is overjoyed by the recognition of his own beauty. Lord Henry's words opened his eyes for the first time to just how gorgeous he is. This just makes him afraid of the day when he'll grow old and lose his beauty, and he breaks down in tears.

Basil doesn't understand Dorian's reaction, and asks if he doesn't like it, Dorian explains his sadness in seeing the beauty of the portrait. He can't believe that he himself will grow older every day, but the painting will never age, and he wishes it was the other way around

Lord Henry proposes that they all go to the theatre that night. Dorian said yes, but Basil says he has to stay home and Basil begs Dorian not to go to the theatre with Lord Henry, but the boy says that he must. We get the feeling that this is rather more symbolic than it Dorian and Henry leave Basil in the studio, alone suffering.

CHAPTER 3

In this chapter, the next day, Lord Henry goes to visit Uncle George, to find out about Dorian's background. Dorian's the grandson of one Lord Kelso, an old acquaintance of Uncle George's; Dorian's mother, Kelso's daughter, was Lady Margaret Devereux, who was very beautiful. Lady Margaret apparently fell passionately in love and married a guy below her social rank, and rumor has it that Lord Kelso arranged for his son-in-law to be killed in a duel.

Lord Henry notices that, in his thoughtful daze, he's passed his aunt's house. When he finally reaches his destination, he's late, and gets told off by Aunt Agatha.

The dining room is full of visitors, including the Duchess of Harley, Sir Thomas Burdon (a politician), and Mr. Erskine (an intellectual), among other luminaries. Dorian is there. Lord Henry takes control of the conversation, and entertains the people with his extravagant ideas.

The luncheon ends when the Duchess, followed by the other ladies, leaves. Mr. Erskine pulls Lord Henry aside, asking why he doesn't write a book, he invites Henry to come visit him at his home.

Even though he's supposed to hang out with Basil, Dorian asks if he can accompany Lord Henry, so he can listen to Henry talk some more. Henry agrees, but says that he's talked enough for today ,the two friends go to the park.

CHAPTER 4

In this chapter Dorian meets Henry’s wife Victoria, she seems to be stupid, sloppy and clumsy compared to Henry. Henry tells Dorian never to get married, and Dorian starts talking about his girlfriend Sibyl Vane, he met her 3 weeks ago , and Henry gets angry , but he doesn’t say anything.

Dorian and Henry go to the theater and the play is Romero and Juliet, the actress is Sibyl Jane making Henry angry again, Dorian starts going to the theatre every night, and she falls in love with him.

One day Henry asks Dorian to dinner but he doesn’t want to go, all he wants to do is going to the theatre to see Sibyl.

Henry thinks is just an affair and he doesn´t care too much, but later that night he finds a telegram on the table saying that Dorian and Sybil are now engaged.

CHAPTER 5

Sybil and her mother are in home and we can see how Sybil is in love , but Sybil’s mother has other interests than love, she’s looking for money and a life full of luxuries.

They don’t know Mr. Gray’s name yet, so James, Sybil`s brother starts getting suspicious of about Mr. Gray, so he wants to know more about him.

James is going to Australia to get some money .the sibling take a walk, have a conversation and then they go to bed.

After leaving Sibyl in her room, James goes to see his mother. He wants to know if she was married to their father, she wasn't. We find out that he was also a gentleman, like Dorian, and he couldn't make an honest woman of her he died without leaving them

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