Dorian Gray Chapter 7 – Discussion

Summary

In this video script, the narrative from Chapter 7 of a novel is dissected, focusing on the theater performance of the character Sybil, whose acting is disastrously poor. This event leads to Dorian Gray's breakup with her and a subsequent change in his portrait, reflecting his cruel treatment of Sybil. The discussion delves into themes of aestheticism, conscience, and the influence of Lord Henry's cynical philosophy on Dorian's actions. The script concludes with Dorian's realization of his own cruelty and a decision to hide the portrait, symbolizing his inability to face his conscience.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The script discusses Chapter 7 of a novel where Lord Henry, Basil, and Dorian attend a theater performance featuring Sibyl, who performs poorly.
• 💔 Dorian breaks up with Sibyl after the performance due to her acting, showing a shift in his feelings and priorities.
• 🔍 Basil warns Dorian about the influence of Lord Henry, indicating a concern for Dorian's well-being and the decisions he is making.
• 🎨 The novel explores the theme of appearance versus reality, with Dorian's focus on Sibyl's beauty and talent overshadowing her actual performance.
• 😖 Dorian's reaction to Sibyl's poor acting reveals his self-centeredness and the influence of Lord Henry's cynical worldview.
• 📖 The script mentions the importance of art in the novel, with references to the preface discussing the role and purpose of art.
• 👥 The characters' reactions to the theater performance reflect their personal values and attitudes, particularly Lord Henry's superficiality.
• 😡 Dorian's cruel treatment of Sibyl after the play shows his transformation from a naive character to one driven by vanity and self-interest.
• 🖼️ The portrait in Dorian's home changes to reflect his actions and inner state, serving as a physical representation of his soul and conscience.
• 🚫 Dorian attempts to avoid confronting his actions by hiding the portrait, symbolizing his inability to face the consequences of his deeds.
• 🔮 The script suggests a moral lesson about the importance of reflecting on one's actions and the inevitability of facing one's conscience.

Q & A

What are the three main plot points in Chapter 7 of the novel?

The three main plot points are: 1) Lord Henry, Basil, and Dorian go to the theater to watch Sibyl perform; 2) Sibyl's poor performance leads to Dorian breaking up with her; 3) Upon returning home, Dorian notices that his portrait has changed to reflect his actions.

Why does Dorian Gray break up with Sibyl after the theater performance?

Dorian breaks up with Sibyl because she performed very poorly in the play, which embarrassed him in front of his friends, and he felt her acting was dreadful and unreal.

What does Dorian Gray's reaction to Sibyl's performance reveal about his character?

Dorian's reaction shows his vanity and self-centeredness, as he is more concerned about his own embarrassment and the disappointment of his friends than Sibyl's feelings or the reasons behind her poor performance.

What is the significance of the portrait changing in the novel?

The changing portrait is a physical manifestation of Dorian's soul, reflecting his moral decay and the consequences of his actions. It serves as a visible emblem of his conscience and the burden of his sins.

How does Lord Henry's influence on Dorian manifest in Chapter 7?

Lord Henry's cynical and superficial views on life and beauty begin to affect Dorian, leading him to value appearances over substance and to become more self-centered and cruel, as seen in his treatment of Sibyl.

What does Basil Hallward warn Dorian about regarding Lord Henry?

Basil warns Dorian not to pay attention to Lord Henry's cynical views and poisonous theories, as they could negatively influence Dorian's decisions and moral compass.

How does Sibyl's acting performance affect the perception of her by Dorian and his friends?

Sibyl's poor acting performance leads to her being seen as a failure, not only disappointing Dorian but also causing Basil and Lord Henry to question her abilities and the wisdom of Dorian's decision to marry her.

What is the connection between Dorian's wish and the changes in the portrait?

Dorian's wish for the portrait to age and bear the burden of his sins and passions while he remains young and beautiful directly leads to the portrait reflecting his moral deterioration and the consequences of his actions.

How does Dorian attempt to deal with the guilt and shame associated with his actions towards Sibyl?

Dorian tries to avoid confronting his guilt and shame by drawing a large screen in front of the portrait, symbolically attempting to hide from his conscience and the consequences of his actions.

What does the end of Chapter 7 suggest about Dorian's future actions and character development?

The end of Chapter 7 suggests that Dorian may attempt to distance himself from Lord Henry's influence, make amends with Sibyl, and possibly reevaluate his values and actions, indicating potential character growth and redemption.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 The Theater and the Transformation of Dorian's Love

In this segment, the narrative focuses on the pivotal moment in Chapter 7 of the novel where Dorian Gray, Lord Henry, and Basil attend a theater performance featuring Sybil Vane. Sybil's poor acting leads to Dorian's disillusionment and eventual rejection of her. The summary details the dynamics between the characters, highlighting Dorian's initial infatuation with Sybil's acting and eventual disappointment. It also underscores the influence of Lord Henry's cynical worldview on Dorian and the latter's growing self-absorption. The paragraph ends with Dorian's realization of the painting's change, symbolizing his inner turmoil and the beginning of his moral decay.

05:01

💔 The Shattering of Illusion and Dorian's Cruel Rejection

This paragraph delves into the aftermath of Sybil's failed performance and Dorian's subsequent emotional detachment from her. It explores Dorian's self-centered reaction to her acting failure, his cruel dismissal of their relationship, and his inability to empathize with Sybil's feelings. The summary captures the depth of Dorian's transformation from a naive admirer to a heartless individual, influenced by Lord Henry's teachings. It also discusses the philosophical implications of art and reality, as well as the audience's reaction to the play, reflecting Dorian's own internal conflict and the beginning of his moral downfall.

10:02

🌗 Dorian's Self-Reflection and the Portrait's Accusatory Silence

The third paragraph examines Dorian's introspection upon returning home and his contemplation of the portrait that bears the burden of his sins. The summary describes Dorian's realization of the portrait's role as a physical manifestation of his soul and conscience. It details his attempt to rationalize his cruelty towards Sybil and his denial of responsibility for the emotional pain he has caused. The paragraph concludes with Dorian drawing a screen in front of the portrait, symbolizing his futile attempt to hide from his conscience and the consequences of his actions.

15:03

🔮 The Wish and Its Dire Consequences

This segment of the script revisits the pivotal wish Dorian made for eternal youth and beauty, with the portrait bearing the marks of his aging and sins. The summary explains the dual nature of the wish, affecting both Dorian's physical appearance and the state of his soul. It discusses the implications of the portrait as a tangible emblem of conscience and the internal struggle Dorian faces as he recognizes the portrait's reflection of his deteriorating moral character.

20:04

🚫 Dorian's Denial and the Inevitability of Confronting One's Actions

The final paragraph in the script addresses Dorian's decision to distance himself from Lord Henry's influence and his contemplation of making amends with Sybil. The summary highlights Dorian's recognition of the need to confront his actions and the impossibility of escaping the consequences of his deeds. It concludes with Dorian's metaphorical attempt to shield himself from the portrait, representing his reluctance to face the reality of his actions and the internal turmoil that follows.

Keywords

💡Aestheticism

Aestheticism is an artistic and philosophical movement that emphasizes beauty and the appreciation of art above all other concerns. In the context of the video, it is the central theme that influences the characters' actions and beliefs, particularly Lord Henry's philosophy that art and beauty are paramount. The video discusses how this belief system affects Dorian Gray's perception of love and reality, as well as his eventual downfall due to the prioritization of superficial beauty over moral integrity.

💡Self-centeredness

Self-centeredness refers to the excessive focus on oneself, often at the expense of others. The video script highlights Dorian Gray's self-centeredness through his reactions to Sibyl Vane's poor acting performance and his subsequent rejection of her. His concern is primarily with how the events reflect on him, rather than empathy for Sibyl's feelings, showcasing the negative consequences of self-absorption.

💡Conscience

Conscience is an inner sense of moral judgment, guiding a person's actions towards good and away from wrong. In the video, the portrait of Dorian Gray acts as a physical manifestation of his conscience, reflecting his inner moral state. The changes in the portrait's expression, such as the lines of cruelty around the mouth, symbolize the moral decay of Dorian's soul as a result of his actions.

💡Cynicism

Cynicism is a general attitude of distrust or skepticism, especially towards human motives or sincerity. Lord Henry is described as a cynic in the script, and his views on life and art influence Dorian negatively. His cynical perspective is contrasted with Basil's more idealistic outlook, highlighting the tension between different worldviews in the novel.

💡Appearance

Appearance in the video refers to the external look or image that one presents to the world, which is a central concern for the characters, especially Dorian Gray. His obsession with maintaining his youthful appearance while his portrait ages and bears the marks of his sins is a key element of the narrative. The video discusses how the importance of appearance leads to Dorian's moral decline and the eventual physical manifestation of his soul's ugliness.

💡Naivety

Naivety is a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment, often resulting in a trusting or unsophisticated nature. Sibyl Vane's character is described as naive, as she is only 17 and has recently experienced love for the first time. Her inability to separate her newfound feelings from her acting is a testament to her innocence and lack of worldly understanding.

💡Cruelty

Cruelty is the quality or state of being cruel, often involving infliction of pain or suffering on others without cause or necessity. Dorian Gray's treatment of Sibyl Vane is highlighted as cruel in the script, especially when he rejects her after her failed performance. The cruelty is not only in his words but also in his lack of compassion for her feelings, reflecting a significant shift in his character.

💡Romance

Romance in the video is portrayed as an idealized or passionate love affair, which Dorian initially experiences with Sibyl Vane. However, after her poor acting performance, he dismisses the relationship as a 'killed' romance, indicating his shallow understanding of love and his prioritization of appearances and societal expectations over genuine affection.

💡Theater

The theater serves as a backdrop for the pivotal events in the video, where Sibyl Vane's acting performance leads to her downfall in the eyes of Dorian and his friends. The theater is not only a place for artistic expression but also a social setting that influences the characters' perceptions and judgments, particularly Dorian's disillusionment with Sibyl.

💡Transformation

Transformation in the video refers to the change in characters, particularly Dorian Gray's moral and physical transformation as a result of his actions and desires. The portrait's transformation, reflecting Dorian's inner decay, is a visual representation of his transformation from a naive young man to a corrupted and cruel individual.

Highlights

The novel's chapter 7 explores the dynamics between Lord Henry, Basil, and Dorian at the theater.

Sibyl's poor acting performance leads to a significant plot development.

Dorian's relationship with Sibyl deteriorates after her theater performance.

Basil warns Dorian about Lord Henry's influence, indicating a turning point in their friendship.

Dorian's perception of Sibyl changes drastically after her failed performance.

Lord Henry's cynical view on life and art influences Dorian's actions and feelings.

The audience's reaction to Sibyl's acting mirrors Dorian's own disappointment.

Dorian's self-centeredness is revealed through his reaction to Sibyl's performance.

Sibyl's realization of the difference between acting and real-life emotions is a pivotal moment.

Dorian's cruelty towards Sibyl unveils his transformation under Lord Henry's influence.

The portrait's change reflects Dorian's actions and internal turmoil.

Dorian's wish for eternal youth and the portrait to bear his aging and sins is a key theme.

The portrait serves as a physical representation of Dorian's soul and conscience.

Dorian's attempt to distance himself from Lord Henry and his teachings signifies a moment of self-reflection.

The idea that one cannot escape their conscience, symbolized by Dorian hiding the portrait, is a central message.

Transcripts

we're looking at chapter 7 of the novel

and the three main plot points that

occur throughout the novel is that Lord

Henry basil and Dorian all go to the

theater and watch syil perform uh she

performs very badly Darian breaks up

with her and then when he gets home he

sees that the painting has altered so

starting with page 96 basil says now

they're at the theater don't pay any

attention to Lord Henry Dorian I

understand understand what you mean and

I believe in this girl so Dorian trying

to explain um his love for Cil and why

he's you know why she's so perfect and

why he's going to marry her and all that

and um we get yet another instance of

Basil giving Dorian a warning about Lord

Henry don't pay any attention to what he

says unfortunately it's too late because

dorian's already doing exactly that um

basil says this marriage is quite right

I didn't think so at first but I admit

it now I'm sure you know

uh whoever you chose must be perfect

okay Dorian says thanks basil I knew

that you would understand me Harry is so

cynical he terrifies me deep down Dorian

knows that um basil is looking out for

Dorian and we we we've spoken before

about how Dorian says that Basel gives

him good advice and all that so he knows

that he can trust basil um and he knows

that basil will listen and understand

understand him and he not so critical he

says that Lord Henry is cynical you know

you always find the negative in

everything and uh he terrifies me well

yes he does terrify you and we can see

why but unfortunately doesn't deter

Dorian from following his poisonous

theories um around page 97 um Cil is

acting on stage in the production of

Romeo Juliet and she's Juliet and she is

horrific um she doesn't act like she has

been acting it's not that oh now that

Lord Henry and basil are watching dorin

is being more critical of her it's not

that she literally is not acting well so

um I've pinpointed a few descriptions

here but she was curiously listless okay

so she like no enthusiasm she showed no

sign of Joy when her eyes rested on

Romeo you know she says that she

realized that Romeo was this old ugly

looking man for the first time

the few words she had to speak were

spoke in a thoroughly artificial manner

it was bad acting uh her tone was

absolutely false uh Dorian Gray grew

pale as he watched her he's so

embarrassed now by having his two

friends there watching this awful acting

and of course watching her who he's been

boasting about this whole time to them

she sent to them um to be absolutely

incompetent it's quite a harsh word they

were horribly disappointed of course

basil and Lord Henry having heard all

this great stuff about syil knowing that

Daren is going to marry her were

incredibly disappointed but again

there's also a sense of

self-centeredness there in that they

were disappointed it's you know it's all

about me I came all the way to the

theater and I'm disappointed page 98 it

was simply bad art um and maybe just go

and read the preface again about um the

role of Art and what art should be and

all art is meaningless the last line of

the preface all art is quite useless um

we can have a debate about that but uh

again it's all about not reality it's

about theater it's about art she was a

complete failure complete failure wow

that's a bit

extreme page 99 Lord Henry you know he's

had enough of this now I think it's

after act one of the play Lord Henry

says she's quite beautiful Dorian but

she can't act let us go you know basil

Lord Henry they go they're getting out

of there they've had enough Dorian

insists that um he's going to stay and

watch the whole play right page 99 Lord

Henry says Cil is very lovely and if she

knows as little about life as she does

about acting which is obviously very

little would seem she will be a

delightful

experience now I've put that in pink

because a delightful experience for

Dorian Oh you mean like Dorian is a

delightful experience for you Lord Henry

that's not how you view people and

that's not why you should get involved

with somebody so that it's an experience

for you Lord Henry remain cynical the

secret to remaining young is never to

have an emotion that is Unbecoming in

other words you know if you experience

negative emotions such as um you have to

deal with death in the family or uh

disappointment or sorrow or anything

like that it it hasn't effect on a

person um and that outwardly makes you

older physically and so Lord Henry is

saying You must only ever experience

wonderful uh experiences and and joys in

life and you must uh lap up anything

that's going to bring you excitement and

happiness and that

um but really you know she is beautiful

what more can you want you know that's

his final thing that he says but you

know what at the end of the day she's

beautiful looks appearance what more can

you want um there's a hell of a lot more

that one should want okay so that's

incredibly Vain and shallow and that's

all linking into aestheticism there um

but remember Darian is so focused now on

on appearances because basil and uh Lord

Henry have and subil vean actually have

all made Darian realize just how

important appearance is Page 100 talks

about how the play dragged on and then

half the audience left and then by the

time the last act came there was hardly

anybody left in the theater even the

audience in this poor slum of a theater

realized that it was bad acting and left

Dorian Gray it was Dreadful are you ill

so he goes behind at the end of the play

he goes behind the stage to find Cil

vain he confronts her and she says oh

how terribly I acted tonight but she's

like gleaming right cuz she's in love so

like who cares you know she's aware of

the fact that she didn't act very well

but she's very excited to see Dorian in

that and Dorian says yes your acting was

Dreadful or you like sick or something

you have no idea what I suffered there's

the self-centeredness again it's what I

suffered what did you suffer actually

sitting in the audience watching your

fiance who you're supposed to be in love

with

just not be at her best is that RAR

suffering then he goes on to say my

friends were bored I was bored

self-centered I was bored and how can

you be bored how can you admit to

somebody that you supposedly love to

such an extent that you're going to

marry her that you were bored watching

her page 101 we can really see the

cruelty in Dorian now and he you know we

think about the Dorian in chapter 1 that

Dorian would not have acted this way

syil says Dorian Dorian before I knew

you acting was the one reality of my

life and we can you know dissect that

and say well that's interesting acting

was my one reality those are two

different ideas um acting is not reality

and uh that's why Dorian fell in love

with you for your acting not your

reality but um what she's trying to say

is that because she didn't have any

experience in the real world

of falling in love or being in love with

somebody somebody said to her you know

this is how you act when you are in love

and so she went you know textbook that's

okay fine I'll react that way now that

she has experienced love herself she

knows what it's like she can't

differentiate she can't

pretend something when she actually

feels it in a different way so she can't

pretend to be in love and I know it

sounds contradictory you think once

you've experienced being in love you

could act better being in love but what

she's saying is that because she knows

how what real love is she can no longer

pretend what real love is and act as

according to what's on the

script you came and you freed my soul

from prison well I don't know about that

but you taught me what reality really is

no no not really because Dory this whole

thing has been about you acting as a

character there's been very little

reality happening here but on her side

she feels like she now has experienced

what love is but she's also only 17

years old so she doesn't know about true

love what Love Actually is either so

you've got these two young naive people

although Dorian is not so naive anymore

um falling supposedly in love with each

other tonight I became conscious that

the words I had to speak says syil were

unreal were not my words were not what I

wanted to say she's saying that because

I have now experienced true love I would

know what I would naturally say to the

person that I'm in love with but now I

can't do that I have to read what's on

the page I have to read the script and

that makes my acting

terrible I might mimic a passion that I

do not feel in other words I can act

something that I've never experienced or

feel but I cannot mimic one that burns

me like fire and that's what I've just

has been explaining Dorian says you have

killed my love now if you really loved

your fiance if you really loved her that

much one night of acting would not kill

your

love notice how quickly Dorian has

changed as well just like basil said to

Lord Henry you change too

often um page 102 103 dorian's cruy

going to reject Cil now page 102 Doren

says you used to stir my imagination now

you don't even stir my Cur curiosity

notice there's that um weighing of two

things almost like an antithesis almost

like the nature of an epigraph which

Lord Henry uses often so you can even

see the dialect or sorry not the dialog

the dialogue or the or the diction that

Dorian is using is mimicking Lord Henry

there's definitely influence

there um he continues to say you are

shallow and stupid well I think the only

person who's shallow is you Dorian but

anyway you are nothing to me now I will

never see you again I will never think

of you that is Savage and Incredibly

cruel as for the I will never think of

you we'll see about that um you might

not have a choice you have spoiled the

romance of my life the romance definite

article the romance as if it's the only

one he's ever going to

have and remember Lord Henry first said

you shouldn't call it the the romance of

your life you should call call it a

romance because it's just

one without your art you are nothing

page 103 siil vain to him sent to be

absurdly melodramatic over the

top her tears and sobs annoyed him wow

can you imagine upsetting your fiance so

badly like that this woman that you love

and because she starts crying because of

your cruel treatment

the tears and sobs from her annoy you

and there it is again the self-centered

narcissistic nature of Dorian Gray that

it's all about him he is annoyed by her

suffering

actually page 104 Dorian arrives home

okay um so he leaves the theater and he

goes wandering around um this sort of uh

horrible part of London um and it tells

us all about what he saw um how the

grotesque children and uh drunkards and

all you know women with horse voices and

all sorts of things that and leaving the

theater the fact that the surroundings

of him of him the surroundings that he

finds himself in are so sorted so run

down so horrid so ugly and grotesque and

just dirty and it's just a horrible

environment is um relating to Dorian

Gray's character at that time it's it's

almost fitting because Dorian and his

soul as it were um and this cruel

treatment of Cil it's fitting that

Dorian is in that environment in that

area because that is what Dorian has

become he almost as if he belongs there

because that is how ugly his character

his Persona his soul theoretically is

becoming he gets home and um he looks at

the portrait that's in his house um he

examines it and then is important he's

looking at this and the he sees that the

expression on the face in the portrait

looks different one would have said that

there was a touch of Cruelty in the

mouth it's as if the mouth has changed

change slightly in the portrait almost

as if it's downturned a little bit that

would make sense because if the if the

portrait is going to be dorian's Soul

then Dorian used his mouth to belittle

and degrade and reject siil be really

cruel to her so it would make sense that

the mouth would be affected sunlight

showed him the lines of Cruelty around

the mouth as clearly as if he had been

looking into a mirror after he had done

some Dreadful thing he has done some

Dreadful thing and something even worse

as a result of that has happened that he

doesn't even know about yet but his

terrible treatment of

Cil is what or is or should I say has

caused this change in the portrait it's

not as if he's done something terrible

he has done something

terrible page 105 suddenly the flashed

across his mind what he had said in

basil Studio the day the picture had

been finished yes he remembered it

perfectly now he had uttered a mad wish

that he himself might remain young this

is the wish that Dorian made and the

portrait grow old that his own Beauty

might be untarnished and the face on the

canvas bear the burden of his passions

and his sins so there's two aspects here

at play and a lot of guys get this wrong

there's the physical aspect the fact

that the painting is going to age

appearance-wise and dorian's going to

remain young that's the one part the

other part is that the face the

appearance is also bearing the sins it's

like his conscience it's his soul as

well okay so the uglier dorian's Soul

gets and the soul is usually not a

tangible thing the uglier his soul gets

the uglier the the portrait will get so

it's not just going to age naturally

with age it's going to depict his soul

so if we if we had a physical

manifestation of our soul then we could

see exactly what it looked like and when

we did good things you know it would

look good and when we did Terrible

Things it would look bad and all that

okay so the portrait is a physical

representation of dorian's Soul page 106

cruelty he thinks had it been cruel it

was the girl's fault not his he's

thinking to himself surely you know this

mouth hasn't altered because I was cruel

I wasn't cruel uh yes you were actually

very cruel but you know placing the

blame someone else somebody else always

somebody else uh it was her fault he had

suffered also he had lived centuries of

pain look at that hyperbole centuries of

pain that's ridiculous what nonsense why

because you had to sit through uh the

theater play production and it was

boring you were bored and disappointed

wow uh she was nothing to him now but

the picture what would he think of that

it held the secret of his life and told

his story that's true it had taught him

to love his own Beauty that's also true

would it teach him to loath his own soul

absolutely yes it will you know um

there's a sense of oh well the portrait

will carry all my sins so and my

conscience so I don't have to worry

about it but we see much later in the

novel that actually what he does what

Dorian does does work on his conscience

that he actually cannot let go of his

conscience uh final page page 107 and

I've put this in bold because this

really is if you had to look for um a

description of what the portrait is you

had to use text from the novel itself it

would be this for every sin that Dorian

committed a stain would Flex and wreck

its fairness Fleck affect it change it

uh mark

it but he would not sin the picture

would be to him the visible emblem of

conscience that is what it is physical

tangible touchable I can see it

conscience then he says he would not see

Lord Henry anymore would not at any rate

listen to those subtle poisonous

theories which they are that in Hood's

Garden had first stirred within him the

passion for impossible things he would

go back to siil vean make her amends say

I'm sorry marry her try to love her

again um if you love somebody you love

them or you don't to try to love her

again so that means that you went from

being totally in love with her at the

start of the production before the

production started while you were in the

theater already and then you went to

having no love for her hours

later um clearly you are not in love

with her so to try and love her again

you don't know what you're talking about

Dorian finally at the end of the chapter

Dorian got up from his chair and Drew a

large screen right in front of the

portrait shuddering as he glanced at it

how horrible he murmured to himself yes

it is horrible it is but you see you and

I we can't run away from our conscience

or put a big screen in front of it

Dorian reckons now he can right he

doesn't even want to look at what he's

done um and that's the whole point of

human nature that we should reflect on

what we've done make amends when

necessary learn from it um feel what we

need to feel you know the remorse the

guilt shame whatever and then you know

move on um not just quickly draw a

screen in front of it and and that be

that and then lastly the kind of eristic

Viewpoint there of how horrible in other

words I don't want to have something

around me or have to look at something

that's unpleasant that's going to make

me feel uncomfortable or shameful or

whatever so it's easy I'll just put a

big screen in front of it and that's

that