Preface & Chapter One
After a series of epigrams highlighting Wilde’s aesthetic philosophy, the novel begins in the London home of Basil Hallward, an artist who shares his latest painting with the clever and scandalous Lord Henry. Basil describes how he met Dorian Gray and has since become obsessed with capturing his beauty. Against Basil’s wishes, Lord Henry meets Dorian when he arrives, intrigued by his youthful charm and beauty.
Chapter Two
While Dorian sits for Basil’s painting, Lord Henry discusses his personal philosophy, emphasizing the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. Lord Henry urges Dorian to indulge in life’s pleasures and not waste his youth. Dorian laments that his portrait will always retain its youthful appearance while he will inevitably age. As a gesture of friendship, Basil promises to gift Dorian the completed portrait.
Chapter Three
Lord Henry learns about Dorian’s tragic upbringing and becomes fascinated with influencing his young friend. At a social gathering hosted by Lady Agatha, where Dorian is also present, Lord Henry shocks the guests with his hedonistic views and charm, particularly captivating Dorian.
Chapter Four
Dorian excitedly informs Lord Henry of his newfound love for actress Sibyl Vane and his intention to marry her. Lord Henry agrees to attend Sibyl’s performance in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. After Dorian departs, Lord Henry reflects on his influence over Dorian, believing himself to be molding Dorian’s character.
Chapter Five
Sibyl falls deeply in love with Dorian, though her family doubts his sincerity. While on a walk with her brother James, Sibyl spots Dorian but he quickly disappears, raising James’s suspicions. James vows to protect Sibyl from any harm that Dorian might cause.
Chapter Six
Lord Henry informs Basil about Dorian’s engagement to Sibyl, which concerns Basil due to the class disparity between them. When Dorian arrives and narrates the story of his engagement, Lord Henry defends Dorian’s pursuit of pleasure and selfishness as natural instincts.
Chapter Seven
Dorian attends Sibyl’s performance, which turns out to be disappointing. Backstage, Dorian confronts Sibyl about her lackluster acting, leading Sibyl to confess that her love for Dorian has diminished her ability to perform. Angered and disillusioned, Dorian breaks off their engagement, insulting Sibyl in the process. Upon returning home, Dorian notices a subtle change in Basil’s portrait of him.
Chapter Eight
The portrait of Dorian reveals a slight alteration, unsettling him. Lord Henry arrives with the news of Sibyl’s suicide, urging Dorian not to feel guilt but to view it as a testament to her love. Dorian resolves to pursue a life of pleasure and indulgence, while the portrait begins to reflect his moral decay.
Chapter Nine
Basil visits Dorian to offer condolences, but Dorian shows no remorse for Sibyl’s death. When Basil attempts to uncover the hidden portrait, Dorian forbids him and vows never to display it publicly. After Basil leaves, Dorian decides to conceal the portrait altogether.
Chapter Ten
Dorian locks the portrait away, believing that as long as it remains hidden, its degeneration will have no consequence. Dorian becomes fascinated with a book Lord Henry lent him that blurs the line between vice and virtue, leading him deeper into a hedonistic lifestyle.
Chapter Eleven
Years pass, and Dorian remains youthful and beautiful while his portrait deteriorates, bearing the marks of his corrupt soul. Despite his outward appearance, Dorian becomes increasingly paranoid about the portrait’s existence and the potential consequences of its discovery.
Chapter Twelve
Dorian encounters Basil, who questions him about the rumors surrounding his life and the sudden end of his friendships. Dorian offers to show Basil his detailed diary, confident that it will dispel any suspicions Basil might have.
Chapter Thirteen
Against Basil’s wishes, Dorian reveals the hidden portrait to him. Horrified by the monstrous transformation captured in his painting, Basil curses his creation and pleads with Dorian to seek redemption through prayer. In a fit of rage, Dorian murders Basil and hides the evidence.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Alan Campbell, an estranged friend of Dorian’s, arrives and reluctantly agrees to assist in disposing of Basil’s body using his knowledge of chemistry.
Chapter Fifteen
Feeling the weight of guilt and paranoia, Dorian leaves a party early and returns home to burn Basil’s personal effects. He then turns to opium for solace, visiting opium dens in London’s darker districts.
Chapter Sixteen
At an opium den, Dorian is addressed as “Prince Charming” by a woman, triggering memories for James Vane, Sibyl’s brother. Convinced that Dorian cannot possibly be the same man who loved Sibyl years ago due to his unchanged appearance, James hesitates but eventually lets Dorian go. Learning from the woman that Dorian has frequented the dens for many years, James vows to capture him.
Chapter Seventeen
Dorian faints, haunted by visions of James Vane’s face staring at him through a window.
Chapter Eighteen
During a hunting expedition, Dorian pleads for the life of a hare, only to accidentally cause the death of a man. He identifies the body as James Vane’s and feels a mix of relief and horror.
Chapter Nineteen
Seeking redemption, Dorian expresses a desire to reform and lead a virtuous life. Lord Henry dismisses these intentions, shifting the conversation to Alan Campbell’s suicide and the mystery surrounding Basil’s disappearance. Dorian jokingly suggests to Lord Henry that he might be responsible for Basil’s murder.
Chapter Twenty
Dorian returns to the locked room to confront the portrait, hoping that his resolve to change will somehow alter its grotesque appearance. Frustrated by its unchanged state, Dorian attacks the portrait with a knife. Servants break into the room and discover the body of an elderly, disfigured man with a knife in his heart, while the portrait of Dorian remains unblemished. They identify the corpse as Dorian Gray, finally releasing him from his cursed existence.