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and said that it would be wonderful if he'll always remain young, while the painting would age for him. That's the idea from which the novel come out. He was invited to publish a story for Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, he wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray, which reached a lot of readers but soon became a scandal for immorality, but also thanks to this, the novel became successful. Than he added six chapters and a Preface with some epigrams to respond to the critics. AESTHETIC MOVEMENT The reign of Victoria (1837-1901) was a period of great change. The world was shaped by the Industrial revolution, which brought social and moral changes. Class distinction was prevalent in all aspects of Victorian society and it was portrayed in the literature of that period. Some painters, dissatisfied with Victorian materialism, found inspiration in medieval Italian paintings. These painters were the "Pre-Raphalites”, most important are Rossetti, Hunt and Millais. Every object they chose to paint had a symbolic meaning. This movement ended in 1853, paving the way to the aesthetic movement wish raised up in 1870s. It had many points in common with the parallel movements of Decadentism and Symbolism. Main points were: art for art's sake. No moral purposes, simply create beauty. Form was the essence of Beauty and Beauty was the highest perfection of human endeavors. Aesthetic writers led unconventional lives, pursuing pleasure and new sensations, devoting themselves to the cult of beauty and art. This was a rebellion against hypocrisy and moralism of Victorian's times. DANDY: very elegant man, who gave importance to his appearance, refined, eccentric lifestyle and brilliant conversation. YELLOW BOOK: We can assume that it was À Rebours, of Huysmans, the protagonist, Des Esseintes, was an important model for Dorian, which bases his life and actions on this book. In D'annunzio's decadent novel Il piacere there are similarities between the pleasure- seeking protagonist, Andrea Sperelli, and Dorian Gray CHARACHTERS DORIAN GRAY: A radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young gentleman. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian becomes extremely concerned with his beauty and begins to pursue his own pleasure above all else. He devotes himself to having as many experiences as possible, whether moral or immoral, elegant or sordid. BASIL HALLWARD: An artist, and a friend of Lord Henry. Basil becomes obsessed with Dorian after meeting him at a party. He claims that Dorian possesses a beauty so rare that it has helped him realize a new kind of art LORD HENRY WOTTON: A nobleman and a close friend of Basil Hallward. Witty, Lord Henry is perpetually armed and ready with well-phrased epigrams criticizing the moralism and hypocrisy of Victorian society. His influence plays a vital role in Dorian's development. SYBIL VANE: A poor, beautiful, and talented actress with whom Dorian falls in love. Sibyl's love for Dorian compromises her ability to act. NAMES MEANING BASIL: from the painter Basil Ward who gave Wilde the idea DORIAN: name of a Greek sculpture, which is used to refer to perfection and classical beauty GRAY: it is a mixture of black and white and shows Dorian's hidden potential for good or evil HENRY: it refers to "Old Harry" which is the nickname of the devil SIBYL: in Greek literature is the name of the prophetess of god Apollo: she is the prophecy of what is going to happen. VANE: in Italian means banderuola wich is something that changes with the wind (when she meets Dorian); vain means vano, inconcludente: someone who can't conclude anything on his own. PLOT SUMMARY CHAPTER 1: THE ARTIST Basil Hallward did his best painting, and his friend Lord Henry, told him to exhibit it to the Grosvenor, but Basil didn't want because he put too much of himself into it. So, Lord Henry, started to compare the painter with the "young Adonis" (Dorian Gray), who has delicate features, fair hair, looks like he was made if ivory and rose leaves, while Basil has only an intellectual expression. Then Lord Henry wanted to know the name of this young man, and Basil firstly didn't want to tell him because when he likes people immensely, he never tells their names to anyone, because it's like losing a part of them and he love to have secrets. When Basil first met Dorian Gray to a party of Lady Brandon, he grew pale with terror, because he knew that he was the person that could absorb his art. He couldn't be happy if he didn't see him every day, he is all his art now and Dorian's personality dominated him. At the end, Basil agreed to let them meet each other but he told Henry not to spoil him and not to influence him. CHAPTER 2: THE PICTURE Dorian meets Henry. They spend a bit of time together, which is enough for Henry to convince Dorian that only beauty and youth are important and once you don't have them anymore you'll be very sad. Basil finish the picture and when Dorian see it he remembers the words of Henry and says that he would sell his soul in order to be young forever and let the picture get old instead. Basil is angry at Henry. Henry proposes to go to the theatre, Basil don't want so he goes alone with Dorian. CHAPTER 3: THE ACTRESS Lord Henry went to visit his uncle Lord Fermor, an old bachelor (not married) because he wanted information about Dorian's family. He was Lady Margaret Devereux's son. She fell in love with a penniless solider and he wanted to marry him, but he was killed in a duel by someone payed by Lord Kelso (Lady M's dad). She died after giving birth to Dorian, who was left to a loveless man: his grandad (son of love and death). Lord Henry had fascinated Dorian completely, he could influence him as he wanted. Dorian told Lord Henry that he is in love with Sibyl Vane, a genius in acting. He entered in this little theatre in the East End of London and found her, playing Juliet and he was immediately in love with her. Her face was like a flower, dark-brown hair, passionate violet eyes, adorable voice. He was engaged to marry Sibyl. CHAPTER 4: THE PRISION OF LOVE Sibyl's mother wasn't happy for her daughter's marriage, because she had only to think about acting, for money. They're a poor family. In addition, Sybil didn't even know the name of Dorian: she just called him Prince Charming. Sibyl believed that Dorian represented what Love should be: she was locked in the prison of love and couldn't listen to his mother. James Vane (Sibyl's brother) was worried for her sister. For that reason, he swore that he would killed him as a dog, if he hurt her sister. Basil found out that Dorian was engaged. He couldn't believe it for the difference between each other social classes. He was incredulous. Dorian was fighting with Lord Henry ideals, believing that Sibyl made him forget about all Lord Henry ideas. He represented all the sins that he has never had the courage to commit. Basil realized gloomy and silent that Dorian changed for good. Life had become between them CHAPTER 5: THE THEATRE Lord Henry, Basil and Dorian were sitting in a private box to watch Sibyl acting. Before her exhibition, Dorian said that she had the power to elevate those rough people. She can give the soul to those who hadn't one, she can create the sense of beauty in ugly people. When Sibyl started acting, she sounded artificial, her words were meaningless, her tone was false and unnatural, she lacked passion and vitality. Then Basil and Lord Henry got up. Dorian afterwards, said to Sibyl that her performance was terrible, that she wasn't like that and he couldn't understand what is changed. Sibyl told him that before she met him, acting was the only aim of his life, but he freed her soul with his love which is the only thing real for her. But Dorian said that she had killed his love and so he didn't want to see her again, because she is nothing without her art. When Dorian came back home he saw something different in his portrait: a line of cruelty around his mouth. Then he realized that that wish had become true, so the picture would reflect his conscience, showing sins and passions. He decided to avoid Lord Henry and to love again and marry Sibyl. CHAPTER 6: THE DEATH OF LOVE Dorian woke up with all of his comforts, he watched his portrait again and felt horrible. So, he decided to wrote passionate letters to Sibyl, but when Lord Henry arrived, he received the bad news: Sibyl Vane was dead. Dorian realized that it was due to their argument and at first was upset, but then he understood that he wasn't felling Sibyl's death for him as a tragedy. At the end, he decided to have eternal youth, infinite passion, secret pleasures, wild joys and wilder sins. The portrait would carry all the shame, it would be the mirror of his soul. CHAPTER 7: THE CONFESSION While Dorian was having breakfast, Basil Hallward arrived and asked him if he went to see Sibyl's mother, but he said that he was at the opera instead, because the past is past. Basil was incredulous. Dorian also said that only stupid people need years to lose emotions, while we didn't want to be dominate by them, but use them to enjoy. Basil was horrified because the simple and affectionate Dorian had changed for good. Dorian believes that he was a boy when Basil met him, and now he is a man with new ideas, passions, thoughts. He's very fond of Harry, but didn't want Basil, who is better than Lord Henry, to leave him and didn't want to argue with him. Suddenly Basil said to Dorian that he had to sit again for a new portrait, but Dorian refuses. Then Basil noticed that his best painting was covered by a screen and was going to remove it, but Dorian was just in time. Then Basil was confused, because he wanted to exhibit his painting in Paris, but once again Dorian prevent it. Basil confessed him the secret of his heart: Dorian was the most extraordinary influence over him, he was totally dominated by him. Dorian felt pity for Basil and wondered if he would ever be dominated by the personality Lord Henry. Then Dorian realized that his secret was going to be revealed, but he learnt his friend's secret instead. Dorian decided to move his portrait in the attic. Lord Henry gave Dorian a yellow book and Dorian was fascinated by it. CHAPTER 8: READING A SOUL After some years Dorian's appearance didn't change at all, but his ways of doing did. He couldn't free himself from the yellow book, he became a true dandy. He fell more and more in love with his own face, whose purity won't let think that he was evil, and became more and more interested in corruption. He had mad hungers that grew more ravenous as he fed them. He enjoyed dinners in ambience of embraided clothes and he was influencing a young man. Time passed and there were circulating stories about him and he was afraid someone might discover the secret of his life. Suddenly on a November cold and foggy night, Dorian and Basil met. Basil was directed to the train station, because he had to move to Paris for 6 weeks. Dorian invited Basil at his home and he was incredulous about all the stories circulating of Dorian: every person with who he had been related, or avoid him, either committed suicide, or are now corrupted. Basil couldn't believe it because he had such a beautiful face, but he wanted to see his soul, so Dorian said that he would see it that night. CHAPTER 9: THE REVELETION Dorian showed the truth to Basil, who was horrified to see that hideous face on the canvas grinning at him. Then he saw his name and he was confused, because he thought that Dorian destroyed it and that wasn't what he had painted. Dorian explained that in a mad moment he made a wish, or a prayer. Basil was desperate, because he worshipped someone who looks like a satyr. But he thought that there could be a way out if they both pray. Suddenly Dorian felt a feeling of hatred ("odio") for Basil and, when he saw a knife, he stabbed him again and again. After that, he felt strangely calm. He wanted to call Alan Campbell to destroy any evidence and he simulate to his servant that he wasn't at home. CHAPTER 10: ALAN CAMPBELL When Dorian woke up, the thought about Basil was tormenting him and became agitated. Alan Campbell was an extremely intelligent young man, passionate about science and he had a chemistry laboratory. They were friends once, but they barely spoke now. When Alan arrived, he was very cold and, after Dorian explained the situation, he didn't want to be involved, because he didn't want to ruin his reputation. So, Dorian wrote something on a letter and gave it to Alan and blackmailed him to help him, and so he did. Dorian sent his servant to bring everything. When they were upstairs, Dorian saw the portrait and, before Alan saw that, he covered it. After 5 hours Alan finished and the body was gone. CHAPTER 11: THE OPIUM DEN Dorian, exquisitely dressed, had dinner to Lady Narborough where he met Lord Henry, but Dorian was strange. Dorian decided to burn the coat and the bag of Basil. He felt very tired and sick, his eyes became bright, his lips became to tremble. He needed to escape from reality. He went of the house and payed a man who brought him to an Opium Den. In the meanwhile, he was thinking about Lord Henry's ideals to cure the soul with senses. The opium dens were places where you can destroy memory of old sins by the madness of the new ones. So, Dorian entered the door and saw a small, dirty house. Things were grotesques. He wanted to leave but memories were tormenting him. Suddenly someone called him “Prince Charming” and a sailor in the corner put his hand around his throat and pointed a gun at his head. He was James Vane, Sibyl's brother and he wanted revenge. So, Dorian escaped death by showing his unchanged pure face and James apologized to him. But a woman said to James that that was the man he was looking for, even if he seems so young. So, James was searching him, but Dorian had already gone away. CHAPTER 12: THE METAMORPHOSIS Dorian and Lord Henry were dining together and Dorian told him that he wanted to be good, because of all the bad actions that he did, so the day before he saved the reputation of a country girl: he broke her heart but didn't ruin her reputation. Afterwards, they were talking about Basil's disappearance that is a question mark. Dorian tested Lord Henry assuming that had killed Basil, but Lord Henry said that it was impossible. For him, every crime is vulgar just as all vulgarly is crime. Ordinary people murder because they have no pleasure by art, so they find it in murder. When Lord Henry had left, Dorian was still thinking about all bad actions that he did and then he thought that maybe that good action with the country girl could have saved his soul, cancelling every sing of corruption on the portrait. So, he went upstairs to check if he was right, but the portrait had signs of falsity and hypocrisy too. Dorian wanted to destroy the painting, so he grabbed the knife and stabbed the painting, but he instantly became old and ugly and died, while the painting returned back as it was originally. Only the ring that he had, made him recognizable by the servant.