The Picture of Dorian Gray

1. What are the three different ways Basil, Henry, and Dorian each view the portrait being painted?

2. Why does Basil warn Henry not to influence Dorian, and what does this tell us about Henry's character?

3. Why does Basil refuse to exhibit his portrait of Dorian Gray, even though it's his best work?

4. What does Basil fear will happen if he introduces Dorian to Lord Henry, and why does this worry reveal something about Basil's own feelings?

5. What specific words and ideas does Lord Henry use to change how Dorian sees himself and his life?

6. Why is Dorian so receptive to Lord Henry's philosophy, and what makes this conversation so powerful?

7. What specific moment triggers Dorian's desperate wish about the portrait, and what does he actually ask for?

8. How has Lord Henry's influence already changed the way Dorian sees himself and his future?

9. What specific wish does Dorian make when he sees his completed portrait, and what does this reveal about his priorities?

10. How does Lord Henry's influence contribute to Dorian's desperate reaction to seeing his own beauty captured in the painting?

11. How does Dorian describe Sibyl Vane when he talks to his friends? What does he focus on most?

12. Why do you think Dorian fell in love with Sibyl's performances rather than getting to know her as a person? What does this reveal about his character development?

13. What changes in Dorian during this dinner party, and what specific things does Lord Henry say that cause this shift?

14. Why is Dorian particularly vulnerable to Lord Henry's influence at this moment in his life?

15. How does Dorian's reaction to Sibyl's death change from the night before to the morning after, and what causes this shift?