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Oscar Wilde, born on October 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland, was a towering figure of the late Victorian era known for his sharp wit, flamboyant personality, and literary genius.

He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and later at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he excelled in classics. Afterward, he moved to London, where he became a prominent figure in literary.

Wilde's literary accomplishments are numerous and profound. His only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," explores themes of vanity, morality, and the pursuit of beauty.

His plays, including "The Importance of Being Earnest," are celebrated for their wit, satire, and keen observation of society. Wilde's essays and short stories also contributed to his reputation as one of the most brilliant writers of his time.

Wilde's personal life was marked by scandal and tragedy. His affair with Lord Alfred Douglas led to a highly publicized trial, resulting in his conviction and imprisonment for "gross indecency" due to his homosexuality. After his release, Wilde lived out his days in exile in France. He passed away from meningitis on November 30, 1900. Despite his hardships, Wilde's legacy endures. His works continue to be studied, performed, and admired worldwide, showcasing his timeless insights into human nature and society. Wilde's life serves as a testament to the power of art, the complexities of identity, and the enduring struggle for acceptance and understanding.
Source: https://www.wilde-online.info/oscar-wilde-biography.htm

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1)The first chapter sets the stage for the coming struggle between the artist Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton over young Dorian Gray.
2)Before introducing his friend to his muse Dorian Gray, Basil begs Lord Henry not to influence Dorian in any way, because of his cynical tendencies.
3)Dorian’s problems begin when Henry cautions him about the inevitable fading of his remarkable beauty and youth

Source: https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/113/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/1937/chapter-1/

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1)”The studio was filled with the rich odor of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.”- from my perspective this quote symbolizes the beauty and aesthetic pleasure of Dorian Gray’s life at the beginning of the story.

2)”The dim roar of London was like the bourdon note of a distant organ.”- I think that the author used a metaphor to liken the noise of London to the deep, distant sound of an organ.

3)"An artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them”- in my opinion artists should put something of them in their paintings, to give them “personality”, but definitely not as huge personality as in Basils Hallward’s artwork of Dorian Gray, who he was obsessed with.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/174

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The novel begins in the elegant home of well-known artist, Basil Hallward in London. Basil discusses his latest portrait with his friend Lord Henry Wotton who admires the painting which represents a charming young man. He thinks that it’s Basils greatest artwork, so Lord Henry insists to him, that he should exhibit it. Hallward refuses, because he claims that he shouldn’t show the work in public, because he has put too much of himself into it. While they are continuing to discuss the painting, Basil tells Lord Henry how he met his “young subject”. His name is Dorian Gray. They met at a party. Dorian has become, an object of fascination and obsession for Basil, who sees the young man every day and declares him to be his sole inspiration. And suddenly Lord Henry remembers where he heard the name- Dorian Gray, before. His aunt Agatha, mentioned that the young man helped her with charity work.

Then Dorian Gray visits Basil. Lord Henry insists on meeting the young man. Basil reluctantly agrees on introducing them, but he begs his friend not to try to influence Dorian. According to what Basil thinks- Dorian has a “simple and a beautiful nature” that could easily be spoiled by Lord Henry’s cynicism.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/174

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1)Dorian Gray's impressionable nature becomes evident as he is introduced to Lord Henry, whose worldview begins to shape Dorian's perceptions and desires. The problem arises in how easily Dorian is swayed by Lord Henry's cynical and self-indulgent philosophies, setting the stage for moral confussion and potential downfall.

2)Basil's intense infatuation with Dorian Gray raises questions about the nature of his admiration. While Basil's artistic admiration for Dorian's beauty is initially innocent, it hints at deeper, problematic emotions that could complicate their relationship.

3)The mysterious portrait of Dorian Gray. Its portrayal as capturing Dorian's youth and beauty while he remains untouched by the passage of time foreshadows a supernatural element that plays a significant role in the story. The painting symbolizes the potential consequences of Dorian's choices and the hidden truths of his character.

Source:
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/174/pg174-images.html

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1. “I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.” In my opinion, it's an interesting perspective on beauty. Because how can you be jealous of something everyone has? Beauty is inside everyone; you just have to look deeper than their facial features or physical appearance overall. Beauty never dies. People change, things change, but beauty stays, so I think it’s important to make ourselves beautiful from the inside; that way, our beauty is our souls—they exist forever.

2. “To influence a person is to give him one’s own soul.” It’s a very powerful quote, I think, but you don’t have to give your soul to someone to influence them. You can influence them by living in peace with your soul and who you truly are.

3. "There was something in his face that made one trust him at once." I love this quote because sometimes we think of people in a certain way because of what they look like; we trust who we see. It’s totally human. But that’s not the way it should be; we can trust a pretty face, but that attractiveness takes away an important aspect of actually getting to know people. We often judge people by their looks, and then we are surprised that a charismatic, beautiful, and charming person betrays us. But at some point, it’s our responsibility for ourselves to look further than what we see from the outside.
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/174/pg174-images.html

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Entering the house, Lord Henry and Basil see Dorian Gray playing on Basils piano. After Lord Henry is introduced to Dorian, Henry mentions that his aunt Lady Agatha has said many great things about the young man. Basil becomes anxious about Henry’s possibilities to influence the afternoon he had planned out with Dorian. Basil tries to warn Dorian, thats Lord Henry is a bad influence, Dorian seems intrigued. Basil puts the finishing touches on the portrait while discussing his personal beliefs and philosophy. While Basil continues to work, Lord Henry shows Dorian the garden where he praises Dorian’s youth and beauty and warns him how surely and quickly those qualities will fade as he urges the young man to live life to the fullest. Basil calls them inside. Dorian sits while Basil is painting him. Remembering Lord Henry’s warning about the advance of age, he reflects that his portrait will remain young even as he himself grows old and wrinkled. Later that evening after Basil tries to destroy the painting, because of his empathy towards Dorian, the three of them go to the theatre.
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/174/pg174-images.html

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1)As Lord Henry’s interest in Dorian grows, he decides to “snoop” into Dorian’s past, as if to discover the origin of his beauty, makes it seem like the young man is something of an obsession to him as well as to Basil.

2)As the gathering continues at Lord Henry’s aunts Agatha’s house, Henry shows the other guests his dark and selfish side by mocking his aunt’s voluntary in trying leave an impact on society for example- by charity.

3)Lord Henry manages to influence Dorian, so the young man makes up his mind and decides to abandon his earlier plans with Basil. And leaves Agatha’s dinner with Lord Henry.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/174/pg174-images.html

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1)“I can sympathize with everything, except suffering,” said Lord Henry. My perspective on this quote- I think that we shouldn’t focus on sympathising things, good or bad, doesn’t matter. We need to live our lives as they are and try to make them better, because if we focus too much on the bad stuff, that happens to us, we lose our joy in life and we continue to see only the bad, even tho sometimes the good isn’t that obvious, but it’s still something to be happy about.
2)"Philanthropic people lose all sense of humanity."- I don’t think that it’s true, because the meaning of philanthropy is basically helping others, by putting an effort into organisations to improve human wellbeing.
3) “A beautiful woman risking everything for a mad passion”- about Dorian’s mother. Not looking at the context of this quote from the book, but I think that overall a lot of beautiful women risk everything for “a mad passion”, these days we call it differently, of course. In my opinion women should value their inner-selves as much as, their physical appearances and attractiveness. We often need to analyse the situation more, so we are 100% sure that we should take the risk.
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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Plot Summary- Chapter 3

Lord Henry goes to visit his uncle, to get more information about Dorian Gray. Turns out that Henry’s uncle George knows Dorian’s mother very well. He says that she is unusually good looking. However, she became a widow, because her father arranged for her husband to be killed, because he was beneath her social status. Dorian’s father was killed right before Dorian was born.

Henry leaves to go visit his aunt Agatha, while he is thinking of Dorian’s story. He remembers how impressionable the young man had been listening to his ideas, how he was visibly moved by his curiosity. Lord Henry thinks of Basil and finds the secret influences and affections very exciting. He vows to make himself a part of it and become a kind of muse to Dorian. When Lord Henry eventually arrives at his aunts house, the guests including Dorian, are already seated.

Lord Henry scandalizes other guests by going on at length about the virtues of hedonism and selfishness and mocking his aunt’s philanthropic efforts. “I can sympathize with everything,” he remarks at one point, “except suffering.” He thinks people should spend their lives enjoying beautiful things and having fun instead of worrying about problems. Even though many people are disgusted by his selfish nature, they still like him, because he's very clever and funny. Especially Dorian Gray is amazed by Henry and decides to abandon his earlier plans with Basil and leaves the gathering with Lord Henry.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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1)Lord Henry and Dorian both have a distrust of time. Dorian is always conscious of it wasting away and Henry, paradoxically as always, tries to cheat its influence by denying it.

2)Dorian's phrases and mimics are starting to resemble Henry's. This is proof of how easily influenced Dorian can be and how effectively Henry manages to influence him.

3)Henry insists that Dorian will have many “loves”, that’s what makes him interesting. “Only shallow people have one love”

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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1)"People know the price of everything and value of nothing."- that really is true, we are aware of the prices of things, but never their value. We don’t value anything, overall. We see things and people as valuable only when we are not able to “get” them or after we have lost them. But we know “the price” for us to get them, we are risking it all to get what we want, but we never value those things.
2)”It never would have happened if I had not met you. You filled me with a wild desire to know everything about life. For days after I met you, something seemed to throb in my veins."- We are humans and sometimes we try to make other people guilty for our own actions and thoughts. I think that this quote perfectly describes how attachment works, we don’t see it negatively at the beginning.
3)"His nature had developed like a flower, had borne blossoms of scarlet flame.”- Yes, Dorians nature had developed in a way, since he was spending time with Lord Henry very often.

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A month later Dorian is waiting in Lord Henry’s library for him to arrive. It is another of Henry’s philosophical principles not to be on time and Dorian begins to get irritated. Then Dorian hears Henry returning, he goes to meet him at the door, but he finds Lord Henry’s wife- Victoria. She recognises Dorian from the photos  Lord Henry has of him.
Henry finally arrives. Then he starts complaining about his wife’s sentimentality and gives Dorian advice- never to marry. Dorian tells him that he is actually too in love to marry. The girl is an actress- Sybil Vane. Dorian thinks that she’s a genius on stage. Lord Henry explains that there are only five women in London worth talking to and that she is definitely not one of them, because “women can’t be geniuses”.
Dorian asks Lord Henry to sympathize, because after all, it was his influence that can be blamed for Dorian’s new, passionate view of life. Henry was the reason why Dorian went to the theatre in the first place.
Henry fins these things funny and tells Dorian that “he will have many loves, that’s what makes him interesting”.
Dorian describes the theatre and the cheapness of the interior, then he starts to analyse the play- “Romeo and Juliet”. Sybil Vane was playing Juliet.
She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, classically beautiful, and with a melodious voice. Only Lord Henry and Sybil Vane have impressed Dorian so strongly with their voices.
He describes the roles she has played and claims that an actress is the only kind of woman worth loving.
Henry asks what kind of relationship Dorian has with Sybil, Dorian says that it has been entirely innocent.
Lord Henry now understands why he hasn’t seen Dorian in a long time, so he insists on having dinner together, but Dorian wants to see Sybil play, so he invites Basil and Lord Henry to go with him, because Dorian has a plan of freeing Sybil from her Jewish manager.
Dorian hasn’t been in touch with Basil. The last contact they had was when Basil sent him the portrait. Dorian admits being jealous of its youth but he’s also fascinated by it. He tries to explain his annoyance with Basil.
Dorian leaves for the theatre. Lord Henry contemplates his feelings for the young man. He likes to watch Dorian’s romance unfold. He thinks about how amazing all human life is, and decides that it is the only subject worth investigating. He thinks that Dorian will be the perfect psychology experiment, because Lord Henry is so interested in the science of the soul’s relationship to the body. He thinks of the extreme influence he has had upon Dorian’s behavior.
When he returns home, there is a telegram waiting for him. It is from Dorian, telling Lord Henry that he is engaged…
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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1)Sybil’s mother is sceptical of the potential marriage with “Prince Charming”, so she argues with Sybil about that. Sybil mentions that Dorian could help them with his social status, not like Mr.Isaacs- the theatre manager.
2)James(Sybil’s brother) is leaving for Australia. He discusses the proposal with his sister and then mother. He threatens to kill everyone who mistreats his sister Sybil.
3)James cannot shake the feeling that he is leaving his sister at an inopportune time. He doubts both Dorian’s intentions and his mother’s ability to protect Sibyl from them.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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1)”The girl laughed again. The joy of a caged bird was in her voice.”- I think this quote represents someone who wants his freedom. It’s a powerful quote, because sometimes we are not aware of the freedom we have.
2)”Prince Charming rulfes life for us now”- Sybil to her mother. I think that Sybil wanted her mother to understand Dorians social status and the impact that he would make on their financial situation, because he’s wealthier than Sybil’s family.
3)“Prince Charming, my wonderful lover, my god of graces. But I am poor beside him. Poor? What does that matter?”- Sybil shows her desire to marry above her(important for Victorian society) to escape her life.
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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The chapter begins in the home of Sybil Vane and her family. Sybil is telling about “Prince Charming” to her mother. Mrs.Vane is concerned that Sybil will forget her acting and her earnings. Sybil insists that “love conquers money”. She also says that Dorian would be a great husband, because of his social status and how he can support them, instead of Mr.Isaacs- the theatre manager. Mrs.Vane just thinks that her daughter is being foolish.
In Dorians eyes Sybil is full of beauty and color, not like her tired and anxious mother.
She knows that Dorian is wealthy and that she should consider the conventions of marriage. She is interested in why Dorian loves her…so she decides to ask her mother about what it was like to love her father, but there is tragedy in the story, so Sybil apologises for bringing him up in the conversation. Sybil’s mother obviously has reasons for disapproving the marriage- for example Sybil doesn’t even know her potential husbands name. Sybils brother James is ready to leave for Australia, but he’s discussing his concerns about Sybil with their mother. Mrs.Vane promises that she will look after Sybil. James goes on a walk with his sister. They are talking about the future, but James is still nervous to leave.
He asks Sybil about her “new friend”(Dorian) and Sybil tells him everything. She says that she found the love of her life.
They sit and continue to talk while watching the passers-by and James begins to talk about his plans, but suddenly Sybil thinks that she sees “Prince Charming” in distance. James concerns return. He threatens to kill the man if he mistreats his sister. Sybil is mad at him for being so aggressive and she tells him that he’s just jealous and inexperienced, he agrees, but he says that he wouldn’t hurt anyone who loved and was lovrd by Sybil.
They come back home, Sybil needs to rest, before her performance, so they say their goodbyes.
James sits for dinner with his mother and talks about his father. Mrs.Vane tells him about a situation, that was similar to Sybils.
The worry about his sister’s protection colors James final moments with his mother. He swears to kill anyone who mistreats her. Jim leaves.
She expresses her sadness later to Sybil, to be left with only one child.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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1)When the idea of marriage is brought up, Henry assumes that Basil means physical attractiveness as the measure of it. That showed how one-sided and flat his view of Dorian was and the importance placed on appearance.

2)Dorian’s happiness is mocked and undermined by Henry, but it is impossible to tell Henry off, because he doesn’t believe in morality in the same way as the others.

3)Henry’s care is for the spectacle of Dorian’s marriage, whether happy or not. He is making a show of Dorian’s life.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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1)”Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.”- Lord Henry offers this aphorism to Basil on Dorian's decision to marry Sybil.
2)”Think of Dorian's birth, and position, and wealth. It would be absurd for him to marry so much beneath him.”-  Basil thinks that the marriage between Dorian and Sybil would be absurd, because of their different social backgrounds.
3)”The basis of optimism is sheer terror”- Lord Henry has an interesting view on optimism. I don’t agree with him, because he thinks that it’s just an illusion.
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm

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Lord Henry announces to Basil Dorian’s plan to marry Sybil. Basil expresses concern that Dorian has decided to marry far beneath his social position. When asked if he approves of the match, Henry says the experience of marriage will be interesting to observe in Dorian but that he disapproves of marriage as a whole, saying it makes people unselfish. Basil is sure that Lord Henry doesn’t mean a thing that he says.
Dorian interrupts them- he tells his friends about his engagement. He describes Sybil to them. Then Henry asks Dorian to tell them about his engagement. He says that it was actually Sybil who first mentioned marriage. Henry comments that this is typical of a woman.
Dorian declares himself changed, and spouts romantic traditional values of how unbreakable vows and the like have made him see past Lord Henry’s tempting theories. Lord Henry claims that pleasure is the only theory to have, and that they, as rich men, can “live a life of beautiful sin”. Dorian dismisses the argument, sure that when Lord Henry sees Sybil act, he will know a new standard.
Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4078/4078-h/4078-h.htm