Sorting it out The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Transcription

1 Cut out the chapter summaries and put them in the correct order. Section One before the Yellow poisonous Book. Focus is on Gray and how he is influenced by Lord Henry. a) Wotton s discourse with his uncle, Lord Fermor gives us extra information about Gray. At luncheon the theme of influence is apparent as the guests and Dorian are enraptured as Wotton reiterates and elaborates on his previous day s speech with Gray. b) We are introduced to Gray and he is described as petulant and child-like. He envies the everlasting beauty of his portrait and wishes it would age instead of him. Lord Henry is portrayed like a scientist viewing his subject with detached fascination. The main themes of the novel are introduced. c) James Vane enters the picture as his sister Sibyl and their mother discuss Prince Charming. He is concerned for his sister s welfare. He expresses a violent need to defend his sister should any harm come to her from this gentleman. d) We meet Lady Victoria Wotton and see that she is the parallel of Lord Henry. Dorian describes his love for Sibyl Vane enthusing that he wants to make Romeo jealous. Victorian attitudes towards Judaism are apparent in this chapter. e) Dorian s paranoia regarding the portrait increases and he moves it to a place of safety. Dorian is engrossed in the Yellow Book. f) Hallward arrives and is incredulous at Dorian s indifference. Lord Henry s influence is blamed here, which Gray defends. However, he blames Hallward for teaching him to be vain to which Hallward replies that he will be punished some day. Gray asks Hallward to paint a picture of Sibyl. Homoeroticism is clearly alluded to in Hallward s comment: It is quite true that I have worshipped you with far more romance of feeling than a man usually gives to a friend Page 1 of 5

2 g) We meet Basil Hallward and Lord Henry. Dorian Gray s portrait is their focus of admiration. h) Gray regrets his actions and composes a letter reaffirming his love for Sibyl. News of Sibyl s suicide reaches Gray. The comments from Gray and Wotton, show her life as a human is insignificant, her art as the actor is the priority. Don t shed your tears over Sibyl Vane. She was less real than they [the literary heroines] are. They attend Patti s performance at the Opera. The ideal of perfection, pure aestheticism encapsulated in her performance. i) After an awful performance, Gray tells Vane You killed my love and walks out on her. The portrait shows his sin and he vows to change his ways. j) Gray likens his kiss with Sibyl to being with the heroines of Shakespeare s plays I have had the arms of Rosalind around me, and kissed Juliet on the mouth and becomes quite agitated when Lord Henry likens their meeting to a business transaction. Section Two Lord Henry still influences Gray, but Gray is an influence in his own right. He is living out Wotton s theories of aestheticism and hedonism. a) Gray is unaffected by guilt at Hallward s murder. Alan Campbell is blackmailed into doing his bidding with a letter detailing licentious behaviour and homoerotic acts. b) Dorian is consumed by his mad hungers and ravenous appetites; he is the chatter of the clubs. His pursuit of pleasure has broken the boundaries of social and moral decency: There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode though which he could realize his conception of the beautiful. The theme of appearance and reality, illusion and deception are brought to the fore here, his reputation is dismissed as unlikely because He had the look of one who had kept himself unspotted from the world. He takes pride in seeing his sins chronicled on the portrait s visage Page 2 of 5

3 c) Vane has tracked Gray down to Selby Royal. Gray faints with shock, a thrill of terror [runs] through him... d) Gray is walking back home from Lord Henry and is left to mull over what he has said, Was it really true that one could never change? Gray hopes that his good deed with Hetty has had some effect on the portrait. However, his expectations reveal that his desire to change stems from selfish motivations. e) Gray is confronted by the James Vane who is looking to fulfil his promise to kill the man who hurt his sister. Gray flees under the pretence that he is too young to be the same Prince Charming. f) Dorian is plagued by his portrait and Hallward s belongings. He seeks out opium to provide some relief. g) Hallward insists upon seeing the portrait and is horrified when confronted with the full force of Gray s sins. Gray admits that it is the face of [his] soul. Gray stabs Hallward in a fit of fury and an uncontrollable feeling of hatred. h) Panic and paranoia prevent Gray leaving his house for two days. On the third day he attends a shooting party where Vane is shot and killed by Sir Geoffrey. Gray now feels that he can relax but we see that he is doomed. i) Victor has married and gone back to Paris. Hallward reappears and confronts Dorian with the hearsay that is being spoken down at the clubs and at parties. j) Alan Campbell has committed suicide and Wotton is divorced. Henry mocks Gray s ideas and dismisses his hopes to reform. Wotton goads Gray with the idea that Hetty could have drowned herself because of him how do you know that Hetty isn t floating at the present moment in some star-lit mill-pond, with lovely water-lilies round her, like Ophelia? Page 3 of 5

4 Teacher s copy Section One before the Yellow poisonous Book. Focus is on Gray and how he is influenced by Lord Henry. g) We meet Basil Hallward and Lord Henry. Dorian Gray s portrait is their focus of admiration. b) We are introduced to Gray and he is described as petulant and child-like a) Wotton s discourse with his uncle, Lord Fermor gives us extra information about Gray d) We meet Lady Victoria Wotton and see that she is the parallel of Lord Henry c) James Vane enters the picture as his sister Sibyl and their mother discuss Prince Charming j) Gray likens his kiss with Sibyl to being with the heroines of Shakespeare s plays I have had the arms of Rosalind around me, and kissed Juliet on the mouth i) After an awful performance, Gray tells Vane You killed my love and walks out on her h) Gray regrets his actions and composes a letter reaffirming his love for Sibyl f) Hallward arrives and is incredulous at Dorian s indifference e) Dorian s paranoia regarding the portrait increases and he moves it to a place of safety. Dorian is engrossed in the Yellow Book Page 4 of 5

5 Teacher s copy Section Two Lord Henry still influences Gray, but Gray is an influence in his own right. He is living out Wotton s theories of aestheticism and hedonism. b) Dorian is consumed by his mad hungers and ravenous appetites; he is the chatter of the clubs i) Victor has married and gone back to Paris. Hallward reappears and confronts Dorian g) Hallward insists upon seeing the portrait and is horrified when confronted with the full force of Gray s sins a) Gray is unaffected by guilt at Hallward s murder. Alan Campbell is blackmailed into doing his bidding f) Dorian is plagued by his portrait and Hallward s belongings. He seeks out opium to provide some relief. e) Gray is confronted by the James Vane who is looking to fulfil his promise to kill the man who hurt his sister c) Vane has tracked Gray down to Selby Royal. Gray faints with shock, a thrill of terror [runs] through him... h) Panic and paranoia prevent Gray leaving his house for two days j) Alan Campbell has committed suicide and Wotton is divorced. Henry mocks Gray s ideas and dismisses his hopes to reform d) Gray is walking back home from Lord Henry and is left to mull over what he has said, Was it really true that one could never change? Page 5 of 5