Dorian Gray chapter summaries – English literature

Basil discusses the painting of Dorian

Dorian is transfixed as Lord Henry talks to him about the value of youth; Dorian makes a wish that he will remain young

A dinner party in which Lord Henry talks about youth; Dorian breaks an engagement with Basil

Dorian tells Lord Henry about being in love with Sybil

Talk of Sybil's love for Dorian, James leaving for Australia; of his intention to kill Dorian if he hurts Sybil

Breaking of news to Basil of Dorian's engagement to Sybil; Dorian and Lord Henry leave together to go to the theatre, Basil follows separately

Sybil fails to act well and Dorian breaks the engagement; the portrait has changed and Dorian vows to reform his ways

Confirming that the portrait has changed, Dorian vows to marry Sybil, but Lord Henry arrives to tell him that she has killed herself.

Instead, Dorian listens to Lord Henry and goes to the opera.

Basil arrives at Dorian's house to offer his condolences over Sybil's death and learns that Dorian went to the opera on the night he found out. Basil is disgusted and comments on how Dorian has changed. Dorian will not let Basil see the portrait and refuses to sit for him again. Dorian hides the portrait.

Dorian hides the portrait; he reads an influential book

Exploration of Dorian's pass times and interests

Dorian meets Basil who appeals to Dorian to live a more moral life; Dorian invites Basil to see the portrait

Dorian shows Basil the portrait, Basil begs him to repent; Dorian kills him

Dorian blackmails Campbell into disposing of Basil's body

Dorian attends a party, returns home and burns Basil's belongings

Dorian seeks opium to 'cure his soul', he is threatened by James Vane, but convinces him that he has the wrong man

Characters talk for love; Dorian thinks he sees James Vane's face at the window

Dorian finally emerges from his room where he has been hiding, and joins the shooting party where a man is shot, it turns out to be James Vane

Discussion about the last, about the soul, and Dorian's youth

Dorian smashes the mirror and then stabs the portrait believing this will destroy any evidence against him, and relieve his nagging conscience; in so doing, he kills himself. When the servants find the body, it is unrecognisable, and they only know who he is by the rings that he is wearing