Notes on The Picture of Dorian Grey

The beginning of Lord Henrys (Harry) influence on Dorian (22).

The novels topic of a new Hedonism that corrupts Dorian (25). The
novel shows this hedonistic attitude from a perspective of great
understanding and detail of what such an attitude involved within the
cultural context of the time. This attitude and its selfishness seem to
be blamed for leading Dorian astray. Yet, at the same time the attitude
itself is not clearly countered with a preferable attitude / an alternative
i.e. a religious life presented in the text. I.e. we only have the
hedonistic lifestyle and its negative effects on Dorian.
Example, Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth!
(26).
Or, Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life (31).
Interesting reference to Wagner (48) in terms of the attitudes
presented and criticized? in the novel and fascism as Wagner was the
Nazis favorite composer. See some parallels between the emphasis on
youth and purity in the novel and the development of fascism in
Europe, which would later spread.
Moments where classes other than the upper classes are figured, i.e
the theater where Dorian meets Sibyl Vane, a terrible consumption of
nuts going on (52). i.e. only the lower classes eat lots of nuts?
Note the figure of the Jewish theater owner.
Sibyl Vanes mother is interested in Dorians money (63).
Sibyls explanation of why she performed badly (87).
Pp 88 and 89 the important passage where Dorian rejects and
humiliates Sibyl.
Dorian sees the changed face in the picture (91).
Dorian writes an apology letter to Sibyl (97).
Dorian learns she is dead (98).
Harry convinces Dorian that he shouldnt take responsibility for Sibyls
death (100-104).

Dorian decides to let the picture take on the effects of his

sins/misdeeds (106-107).
Basil tries to get Dorian to take responsibility for Sibyls death (109).
Dorian wont let Basil look at the picture (112).
Chapter 11 starts with a shift forwards in time and gives us a summary
of Dorians life between having locked up the picture and the present.
Chapter 12 switches back to a moment by moment/day by day account
of what Dorian is doing with Basil coming to warn him about the effects
of rumors of his debauched lifestyle. Still, Basil does not believe the
rumors because there is no sign of them on Dorians face (148).
Dorian decides to share the truth with Basil and show him the picture
(151).
Dorian shows Basil the picture and kills him (155-158).
Dorian blackmails his friend Campbell into destroying the body (167169).
Dorian visits the opium den (183).
Note how the realistic details of the finery of the upper class lifestyle
are here contrasted with similar details about one of the lowest of
circumstances. I.e. details such as the Malays crouching by a little
charcoal stove (186). Here, at the opium den by the ships in the port,
we see a glimpse of the rest of life at the time, the life not of the upper
classes. Interesting to think of in our context, it is no surprise that
there are Malay people in the opium den since, at the time, the Malay
language was the lingua franca of the south China sea and the sea
port area in London would have had people from all walks of life from
all around the world, i.e. from all races and cultures mixing together.
Note, we should not think that the they are being depicted negatively.
Rather, the people in the opium den, presumably engaged in very
seedy activities, are implicitly depicted in a positive or a least neutral
light at least in the sense that they are not carrying with them the
intense hypocrisy and life of double standards as represented by
Dorian.
Dorian gives money to the lady at the bar whom we later learned is
one of Dorians abandoned lovers (188). Her calling him prince
charming, the name Sibyl called him, reveals to Sibyls brother, James,

who happens to be sitting in the bar, that he has finally found the man
whom he blames for his sisters death.
Dorians youthful face again saves him when he uses it to convince
Sibyls brother that he is the wrong man (189).
The woman explains to James that Dorian is indeed the right man (190191).
Dorian begins to live in fear of being found by Sibyls brother, but
James is accidently shot in a bush at the shooting event (200).
Dorian realizes it is James Vane (206).
Dorian tries to confess the murder of Basil to Henry but Henry wont
believe him (210).
Dorian decides to turn over a new leaf and be good (215).
But, Henry has convinced Dorian that his first effort to be good is a
sham.
So when Dorian tries to see if the painting shows him that his effort to
be good has had a good effect on the painting he pulls of the cover and
. . . (219).
Tad Wellman 24/3/14