Contents
CHAPTER II
Overview
Dorian meets Lord Henry and is shaken by his seductive philosophy of self-realization and the supremacy of youth and beauty. Seeing his finished portrait, Dorian dreads aging and envies the canvas’s permanence, wishing it would grow old for him. Basil’s attempt to destroy the painting is stopped by Dorian. Dorian commits to Lord Henry’s influence, straining Basil’s bond with him.
Summary
Dorian Gray greets Basil Hallward in the studio and meets Lord Henry Wotton. Despite Basil’s misgivings, Lord Henry stays while Dorian poses. Lord Henry begins expounding on influence, self-development, and yielding to temptation, fascinating and unsettling Dorian.
Overheated, Dorian goes to the garden with Lord Henry, who extols youth and beauty as life’s only real treasures and warns of their brevity. Dorian, both captivated and afraid, listens as Lord Henry urges him to live for sensation and a “new hedonism.”
Called back inside, Dorian sees the completed portrait and, awakened to his own beauty and its fleeting nature, is seized by terror of aging. He wishes the picture would age instead of him and declares youth the only thing worth having. When Basil, distressed, moves to destroy the canvas, Dorian stops him, confessing love for the work as part of himself. Basil promises the portrait to Dorian.
Over tea, Lord Henry suggests the theatre. Basil urges Dorian to stay, but Dorian chooses Lord Henry’s company. Basil, hurt and fearful of Lord Henry’s influence, reminds Henry of a promise to be cautious. Dorian and Lord Henry depart together, leaving Basil in pain.
Who Appears
- Dorian GrayYoung, beautiful sitter; enthralled by Lord Henry’s ideas, fears aging, wishes the portrait would age, prevents its destruction.
- Lord Henry WottonCynical aristocrat; preaches hedonism and the primacy of youth, profoundly influencing Dorian, draws him away to the theatre.
- Basil HallwardArtist devoted to Dorian; completes his masterpiece, tries to destroy it in alarm, yields it to Dorian, left wounded by events.
- ParkerHallward’s butler; brings refreshments during the studio sitting and tea scene.