# Alan Campbell — The Picture of Dorian Gray character guide

> Alan Campbell in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Campbell

**First appearance:** 0013-xii

## Snapshot

A brilliant young chemist and former intimate of Dorian's who now avoids him — until a late-night summons he cannot refuse.

## Who they are

Alan once shared Dorian's opera box and his fascination, until something unspoken ended their friendship and left him melancholy and withdrawn into science. He is a man of real talent, respected for his experiments, and precisely the expertise Dorian needs when discretion matters most. His dread of the past and his unwilling return to Grosvenor Square show how far Dorian's influence reaches — and what it costs those who once loved him.

## Relationships

### [Dorian Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/dorian_gray)

_psychological_

Dorian blackmails Alan into disposing of Basil's body, exploiting a past friendship and driving Alan to suicide.

### [Dorian Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/dorian_gray)

_psychological_

Dorian blackmails Alan into disposing of Basil's body, exploiting a past friendship and driving Alan to suicide.

### [Dorian Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/dorian_gray)

_psychological_

Dorian blackmails Alan into disposing of Basil's body, exploiting a past friendship and driving Alan to suicide.

## In the story

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xiv)

A former friend and scientist who is blackmailed into helping Dorian dispose of Basil Hallward's body; he is visibly disturbed and reluctant.

### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xx)

Dorian notes that Alan Campbell shot himself in his laboratory without revealing the secret.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/alan_campbell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters