# Dorian Gray — The Picture of Dorian Gray character guide > Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Dorian Gray, Mr. Gray, the real Dorian, the Dorian Gray, Mr. Dorian **First appearance:** 0001-the-picture-of-dorian-gray ## Snapshot A radiant young man whose portrait secretly bears the marks of his sins while his own face stays flawless and young. ## Who they are Dorian arrives as Basil's muse and Lord Henry's most promising experiment, a beautiful blank page on which both men want to write. He craves a life of sensation without consequence, and the portrait grants him exactly that — every cruelty and indulgence hidden behind an unchanging face. His struggle between longing for lost innocence and appetite for experience drives the novel's central bargain and everything that follows from it. ## Relationships ### [Lord Henry Wotton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/lord_henry_wotton) _psychological_ Lord Henry manipulates and corrupts Dorian with his hedonistic philosophy, acting as a toxic mentor and intellectual seducer. ### [Basil Hallward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/basil_hallward) _psychological_ Basil is obsessively devoted to Dorian, both as an artistic muse and as a friend, but Dorian's cruelty ultimately destroys him. ### [Alan Campbell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/alan_campbell) _psychological_ Dorian blackmails Alan into disposing of Basil's body, exploiting a past friendship and driving Alan to suicide. ### [Lady Narborough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/lady_narborough) _social_ Lady Narborough is a society hostess who enjoys Dorian's charm and wit, representing his social circle of the upper class. ### [Sibyl Vane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/sibyl_vane) _romantic_ Dorian briefly loves Sibyl for her acting talent, then cruelly rejects her when she fails to perform, leading to her suicide. ### [Duchess of Monmouth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/duchess_of_monmouth) _social_ The Duchess is attracted to Dorian's beauty and mystery, but their relationship remains superficial and flirtatious. ### [Hetty Merton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/hetty_merton) _romantic_ Hetty is a country girl Dorian briefly courts and then abandons, a pattern of his predatory romantic behavior. ### [James Vane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/james_vane) _rivalry_ James Vane hunts Dorian to avenge his sister Sibyl's death, becoming a direct physical threat to Dorian. ### [Lord Henry Wotton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/lord_henry_wotton) _psychological_ Lord Henry manipulates and corrupts Dorian with his hedonistic philosophy, acting as a toxic mentor and intellectual seducer. ### [Lord Henry Wotton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/lord_henry_wotton) _psychological_ Lord Henry manipulates and corrupts Dorian with his hedonistic philosophy, acting as a toxic mentor and intellectual seducer. ### [Basil Hallward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/basil_hallward) _psychological_ Basil is obsessively devoted to Dorian, both as an artistic muse and as a friend, but Dorian's cruelty ultimately destroys him. ### [Basil Hallward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/basil_hallward) _psychological_ Basil is obsessively devoted to Dorian, both as an artistic muse and as a friend, but Dorian's cruelty ultimately destroys him. ## In the story ### [The Picture of Dorian Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/the-picture-of-dorian-gray) The subject of Basil's portrait, whose beauty captivates all who meet him. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/i) Discussed extensively by Basil and Lord Henry; his portrait is the subject of their conversation, though he has not yet appeared. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/ii) Sees his portrait and experiences a revelation of his own beauty; becomes obsessed with youth and fears aging; wishes the portrait would age instead of him. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/iii) Sits spellbound by Lord Henry's conversation and chooses to go with him to the park instead of visiting Basil. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/iv) Dorian is now deeply in love with Sibyl Vane, speaking of her with intense passion and planning to free her from her contract and make her a star. He shows impatience and excitement, a stark contrast to his earlier shyness. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/v) Seen briefly by Sibyl in a carriage, the object of her love and Jim's hatred. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/vi) Announces his engagement to Sibyl Vane, describing his love and the kiss they shared after her performance. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/vii) Dorian experiences horror upon seeing the portrait change, reflects on his cruelty to Sibyl, and resolves to reform his life. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/viii) Dorian experiences a range of emotions upon learning of Sibyl's death, from horror to rationalization, and decides to use the portrait as a guide for his soul. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/ix) Manipulates Basil into confessing his idolatry, then forbids him from ever seeing the portrait again, hiding it behind a screen. ### [The Hiding of the Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/x) Dorian orchestrates the hiding of the portrait in the old playroom, reflecting on his childhood and the corruption of his soul. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xi) Obsessed with a French novel, he secretly compares his youthful face to the aging portrait, growing enamored of his beauty and the corruption of his soul. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xii) Defensive and contemptuous, Dorian challenges Basil to see his soul through the portrait. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xiii) Reveals the portrait to Basil, murders him in a fit of hatred, and calmly plans to conceal the crime. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xiv) Awakens peacefully but is haunted by the memory of murdering Basil Hallward; he orchestrates the disposal of the body by coercing Alan Campbell. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xv) Attends Lady Narborough's party, struggles with inner turmoil, burns Basil's belongings, and retrieves a mysterious box. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xvi) Seeks forgetfulness in opium dens, haunted by guilt and Basil Hallward's eyes. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xvii) Host of the house party; faints after glimpsing James Vane's face at the window. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xviii) Experiences intense terror and paranoia about being hunted, but later feels relief and joy upon discovering James Vane's accidental death. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xix) Dorian announces his intention to reform, having spared Hetty Merton, and expresses regret over Lord Henry's past influence. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/xx) Dorian returns home, reflects on his past, and ultimately destroys the portrait, leading to his death. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/characters/dorian_gray - 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