Chapter 10 analysis of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Summary

In this lesson, Mrs. Long delves into Chapter 10 of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' where Dorian decides to hide the portrait that bears the marks of his sins. He chooses his old schoolroom, a place associated with his grandfather and a lonely childhood, to conceal the painting. The chapter explores Dorian's internal struggle with his hedonistic desires and the corrupting influence of Lord Henry, as well as his fleeting hope for redemption through love. The summary also touches on Dorian's paranoia and his attempt to forget Sybil's death, which is highlighted by an inquest's verdict.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Dorian Gray's realization of the portrait's significance leads him to hide it to ensure his own safety and eternal youth.
• 🏚 He decides to hide the portrait in his old schoolroom, a place with deep psychological ties to his upbringing and family history.
• 👴 Dorian's relationship with his grandfather is revealed, showing a troubled past and contributing to his current behavior.
• 🖼️ The choice of a satin coverlet, once belonging to his grandfather, to hide the portrait symbolizes the covering of his sins and corruption.
• 🔮 Dorian contemplates the future, hoping for a love that might purify him and shield him from the sins stirring within him.
• 🚫 He is determined to keep the portrait hidden from the world, reflecting his desire to maintain the facade of his unblemished youth.
• 🤔 Dorian experiences a moment of regret, considering the influence of Lord Henry and his own temperament on his actions.
• 📰 The newspaper article about Sybil's death serves as a reminder of Dorian's callousness and detachment from the consequences of his actions.
• 📚 Lord Henry sends Dorian a 'poisonous' book that fuels his obsession with living a life of hedonistic pleasure.
• 🕰️ Dorian's paranoia about his manservant Victor discovering the missing portrait shows his growing concern for his secret.
• 📖 The conversation about the difference between liking and being fascinated by something indicates Dorian's deep enthrallment with destructive ideas.

Q & A

What significant decision does Dorian Gray make at the beginning of Chapter 10 regarding the portrait?

Dorian Gray decides to hide the portrait where no one can see it, as he had previously left it exposed and realized the risk it posed to his secret.

Why does Dorian choose his old school room to hide the portrait?

Dorian chooses his old school room because it holds memories of his childhood and is a place that would not be casually accessed by others, providing a secure hiding spot for the portrait.

What item does Dorian use to cover the portrait, and what symbolism is associated with it?

Dorian uses a large satin coverlet that belonged to his grandfather to cover the portrait. The coverlet, typically used for funerals, symbolizes death and the covering of something corrupted and shameful.

How does Dorian feel about his own temperament and its influence on his actions?

Dorian acknowledges that his temperament has the potential for evil and that it could lead him to commit horrific acts that would ruin the beautiful painting of him.

What role does Lord Henry play in Dorian's life, and how does Dorian perceive this influence?

Lord Henry acts as a voice of temptation for Dorian, influencing him towards a life of hedonistic pleasures. Dorian is aware of the dangers of Lord Henry's influence but finds it irresistible.

What does Dorian hope for regarding his future, and how does he think it might affect the portrait?

Dorian hopes that some love might come into his life that could purify him and shield him from his sins, potentially altering the cruel look on the portrait's face.

How does Dorian react to the newspaper article about Sybil's death sent by Lord Henry?

Dorian reacts with indifference and annoyance, tearing the paper and discarding it, as he does not want to be reminded of Sybil's death or feel any guilt associated with it.

What is the significance of the yellow book that Lord Henry sends to Dorian?

The yellow book is a story about a young Parisian seeking to experience all passions and modes of thought, which resonates with Dorian's own pursuits. It is described as 'poisonous' and fascinates Dorian, further influencing his moral compass.

How does Dorian's relationship with his grandfather influence his choice of hiding place for the portrait?

Dorian's choice of the school room is influenced by his grandfather's disdain for him due to his resemblance to his mother and the painful memories associated with her death.

What does the room that Dorian uses to hide the portrait represent to him?

The room represents a place of his innocent boyhood, which is now paradoxically turned into a place that houses the horrors of his sinful soul.

How does Dorian's paranoia about the portrait being discovered manifest?

Dorian's paranoia is evident in his concern about his manservant Victor noticing the missing portrait and in his reaction to the newspaper article about Sybil's death.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ The Portrait's Secret Relocation

In this paragraph, Dorian Gray decides to hide the portrait that bears the marks of his sins and aging, while he remains young and beautiful. He enlists Mr. Hubbard to move it to his childhood school room, a place rich with memories of his grandfather. Dorian's choice to hide the portrait signifies his acceptance of a life of hedonistic pleasures, with the painting bearing the consequences. The paragraph delves into Dorian's internal conflict, his struggle with the influence of Lord Henry, and his recognition of his own dark temperament. It also explores the symbolism of the satin coverlet that once belonged to his grandfather, now used to conceal the painting, and Dorian's momentary regret for not confiding in Basil, who might have helped him resist his corrupting influences.

05:02

🎭 The Unveiling and Concealment of Dorian's Soul

This paragraph describes Dorian's emotional turmoil as he views his portrait before covering it with a funeral pall, symbolizing the death of his former self. The painting's expression has changed to reflect his inner loathing and the judgment of his soul. Dorian's decision to hide the portrait in his school room, a place associated with his innocent past, creates a paradoxical situation where his childhood purity now houses his corrupted soul. The paragraph also touches on Dorian's relationship with his grandfather, the weight of his sins, and his hope for a purifying love that might one day cleanse him of his shame.

10:06

📚 The Yellow Book's Influence and Dorian's Paranoia

In the final paragraph, Dorian receives a book from Lord Henry that captivates him with its tales of passion and decadence, further pulling him into a life of sin. The book serves as a catalyst for Dorian's descent, as he becomes fascinated by its contents. Dorian's paranoia is evident when he worries about his manservant noticing the missing portrait and when he reacts to a newspaper article about Sybil's death. The paragraph ends with Dorian's dismissal of any responsibility for Sybil's fate and his immersion in the world of pleasure and beauty, as he disregards the sorrow of Sybil's mother and the moral implications of his actions.

Keywords

💡Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is the protagonist of the novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde. He is a young man of extraordinary beauty who sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth and beauty, with all the signs of aging and sin being reflected in his portrait instead. In the video script, Dorian's character is central to exploring themes of hedonism, vanity, and the consequences of moral corruption.

💡Portrait

The portrait in the novel is a magical painting that ages and becomes corrupted as Dorian Gray remains young and beautiful. It serves as a physical manifestation of Dorian's sins and moral decay. In the script, Dorian decides to hide the portrait to conceal the truth about his soul, indicating his growing awareness and shame of his actions.

💡Hedonism

Hedonism is a philosophy that emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence as the primary components of a good life. In the context of the video, Dorian Gray's decision to live a life of hedonistic pleasures allows the painting to bear the brunt of his actions, reflecting the moral implications of such a lifestyle.

💡Sins

Sins, in a moral or religious context, are acts considered to be wrongdoings or transgressions against divine law or societal norms. The script discusses Dorian's acceptance of his sinful nature and how his portrait will bear the marks of his corruption, symbolizing the internal struggle between his desires and societal expectations.

💡Lord Henry

Lord Henry is a character in the novel who influences Dorian Gray's moral decline by promoting hedonistic and aesthetic philosophies. In the script, his influence is described as 'poisonous' and 'dangerous,' highlighting his role in leading Dorian down a path of moral degradation.

💡Basil

Basil Hallward is an artist and a close friend of Dorian Gray who painted his portrait. He represents the voice of reason and conscience in Dorian's life. The script mentions Dorian's regret for not confiding in Basil, who could have potentially helped him resist the negative influences in his life.

💡Conscience

Conscience refers to an individual's moral sense of right and wrong, which guides their actions. In the script, the portrait is described as a 'visible sign of conscience' for Dorian, serving as a constant reminder of his moral transgressions and the choices he has made.

💡Purity

Purity in the context of the video script refers to Dorian's innocent and untarnished past. The room where he decides to hide the portrait is associated with his pure boyhood, creating an ironic contrast between his past innocence and the corruption his portrait now represents.

💡Paranoia

Paranoia is a mental condition characterized by excessive or irrational fears and suspicions. The script describes Dorian's growing paranoia about others discovering his secret, particularly his manservant Victor, which reflects the psychological impact of his hidden sins.

💡Youth and Beauty

Youth and beauty are central themes in the novel, symbolizing the fleeting nature of physical attractiveness and the desire to maintain it at any cost. Dorian's pursuit of eternal youth and the consequences of this desire are a driving force in the narrative, as discussed in the script.

💡Yellow Book

The Yellow Book is a volume sent by Lord Henry to Dorian, which further influences his hedonistic and morally ambiguous lifestyle. It is described as 'poisonous' in the script, indicating that its contents contribute to Dorian's moral decline and fascination with a life of pleasure and self-indulgence.

Highlights

Dorian Gray realizes the portrait will bear the brunt of his sins and corruption.

Dorian decides to hide the portrait where it cannot be seen by anyone.

The significance of choosing his school room to hide the portrait, a place from his childhood.

Dorian's relationship with his grandfather and the psychological impact of his upbringing.

The use of his grandfather's satin coverlet to hide the portrait, symbolizing a shroud for the sins.

Dorian's moment of regret for not revealing his true feelings to Basil Hallward.

The internal struggle between Dorian's conscience and the influence of Lord Henry.

Dorian's acknowledgment of his own temperament's potential for evil.

The moment Dorian covers the portrait, unable to bear the reflection of his soul.

The physical and metaphorical weight of the portrait as it is moved.

Dorian's paranoia about others discovering the portrait and his secrets.

The delivery of the yellow book and its potential influence on Dorian's life.

Dorian's fascination with the yellow book and its dangerous ideas.

The contrast between Dorian's lack of remorse over Sybil's death and societal expectations.

Dorian's relief that the inquest into Sybil's death absolves him of responsibility.

The discussion on the difference between liking and being fascinated by something.

Transcripts

hi and welcome to mrs long's lesson on

chapter 10 of the picture of dorian gray

you remember at the end of the last

chapter

um dorian had spoken to basil

um had managed to um

sort of weasel the truth out of basil

about the

um how basil felt about the portrait

had managed to not reveal his truth

about the portrait

um and had sort of decided

that it didn't really matter um what

happened to the portrait because it

meant that he would be safe

and there would be some almost sort of

delightful pleasure in him watching the

portrait age

and greatly as he stayed young and

forever and that was the only thing

he was safe and that was what was

important

so what's happening in this chapter is

he now decides that he obviously

remembers he thought he was mad to

actually have left this portrait out

where anybody could have seen it and so

he carries out his decision

and he gets mr hubbard from the

man who frames paintings to come and

move

the portrait for him and so

it's very um significant i think where

he chooses to hide this portrait so he

asks

his housekeeper for the key for his

school room

um where he used to have his lessons

when he was a boy

and so what comes up quite often in this

chapter is references to his grandfather

and we start to see a little bit more

behind the psychology of dorian and how

he grew up

you see here he winced at the mention of

his grandfather he had

hateful memories of him okay

so he's got to sort of um do this very

carefully he has to make sure nobody

knows why he wants to go into the school

room

nobody sees the painting even the men

who move it

and so he he sees a large satin

coverlet a certain sort of throw

that's been embroidered that belonged to

his grandfather and he

thinks that would be a good thing to

wrap the dreadful thing in

and he muses that it perhaps often had

served as a pull for the dead now it was

to hide something that had a corruption

of its own

worse than the corruption of death

something that would breed horrors and

yet would never die

what the worm was to the corpse his sins

would be to the painted image you see

here that he

has accepted that he's going to sin and

he's accepted that this is going to

corrupt

and mar and rot this painting

they would mar its beauty and eat away

its grace they would defile it and make

it shameful and yet the thing would live

on it would always be alive

so he knows what he's doing he's making

this cognitive decision that he is going

to sin

live a life of hedonistic pleasures

and allow the painting to bear the brunt

of it and it's almost as if he's decided

that he's go that he knows he's going to

do things that are so horrific that it's

going to absolutely

ruin this beautiful painting of him

um he has a moment where he

has a second thought remember we you

know this painting

puts him in a crossroads is he going to

allow it

to be a visible sign of conscience so

that he

is good or is he just going to let it

bear the brunt of his son so that he can

do whatever he wants

he has decided um on

on the former but he has a momentary

sort of lapse where he thinks he regrets

that he had not told basil the true

reason because basil would have helped

him

to resist lord henry's influence

and the still more poisonous influences

that came from his

own temperament notice here his

acknowledgement that it's not just lord

henry

even though he says lord henry has with

his poisonous dangerous theories

um he knows that his own temperament has

the ability

for worse um

interesting that he acknowledges that um

he hasn't it's we're still very early on

in the story but

perhaps the way he was able to

bounce back from sybil's death um has

given him some insight into his own

character

yes basil would have saved him i like to

think of basil

as the little sort of angel on dorian's

shoulder and lord henry as the devil on

the other

he knows that basil is good and often he

doesn't want to listen to basil

because basil tells him things that are

true and basil is kind of

his the voice of reason that he knows he

should listen to but lord henry is the

voice of temptation that's just too

good for him to resist and he admits

that there are terrible passions in him

that would find

their outlet and dreams that would make

the shadow of the evil real

so all of the things that he had been

kept hidden

he's going to allow to come to light

but obviously only the painting will

show the evidence of this

so when he looks just before he is about

to cover the painting

he looks at it and it seems to him that

the painting was

unchanged but his loathing of it

intensified and so it looked worse

than it did before only the expression

had altered compared to what he saw of

it in central rebuke how

shallow basil's reproaches about civil

vein remember the previous chapter

basil um was shocked that he was not

more upset about civil rights death

was horrified that he hadn't given any

thought to her mother

um i couldn't believe that this man who

had

was destined to marry sybil could be so

callous and unfeeling

and have got over her death so quickly

but compared to the things that basil

said to him which did make him

uncomfortable

the way the portrait looks at him is

even worse

his own soul was looking out at him and

calling him to judgment a look of pain

came across him

and he flung the rich paul over the

picture so he cannot

bear to look at this picture because

it's bearing

the truth of his soul to him um and

interesting obviously very significant

that he's covering it with a funeral

paul which is

a piece of cloth that you recover um

a coffin a dead body it's almost as if

he's bearing

the man he used to be the good

innocent naive sweet dorian

when mr hubbard and his men are coming

carrying this

massive portrait up the stairs um he

says that something overload to carry

ghosts the little man and he stopped to

up the sweat of his forehead

and there's this lovely moment where

dorian says yeah i'm afraid it is rather

heavy

um but of course that's that could have

two interpretations

heavy as in it's physically heavy but

heavy is in it

carries the weight of dorian's sins and

the truth of his

his inner self as well

and he unlocks the door that opens into

the room that was to keep

for him the curious secret of his life

and hide his soul

from the eyes of men so this room almost

becomes

like a cave in which dorian's real

self resides and he's going to keep it

away from everyone

and the prying eyes of everything it's a

large room that his grandfather

had bought both specifically for him

and it's talks here about how his

grandfather or why his grandfather hated

him

because of his strange likeness to his

mother and for other reasons

probably because he as we've discussed

before is the symbol

of his mother um completely disobeying

the rules of her class and marrying this

lowly foot soldier

who he had murdered and so dorian is

this constant reminder

of that but also remember his mother

died and so

the pain that that would cause the

grandfather would be

you know dorian would be a reminder of

that constantly

not only his presence but the fact that

he looks so like his mother

and he references here as well was

extract every moment of his lonely

childhood came back to him

so he was a lonely child um

and you know his guardian his

grandfather didn't have any regard for

him so you can imagine

growing up with very little love

and nurturing he recalls the stainless

purity of his boyish life and it seemed

horrible to him that it was here that

the fatal portrait was to be hidden away

so it's this sort of very sick

paradox a sick irony that the place that

represents his

untouched innocent boyhood is now going

to be the thing that or the place that

houses

the horrors of his sinful soul

he talks here about how beneath its

purple paw the

face painted would grow be still sudden

and unclean

but what did it matter because no one

could see it he himself would not see it

why should he watch the hideous

corruption of his soul he kept his youth

that was enough now we know he's not

going to be able to resist

watching the hideous corruption of his

soul

um but at the moment he's

looking towards a possible more brighter

future there was no reason that the

future could not

should be so full of shame some love

might come across his life and purify

him and shield him from their sins

that seem to be already stirring in

spirit and flesh perhaps someday

the cruel look would have passed away

from the scarlet sense of mouth

and so it's interesting how he he's

relying on an external force to save him

it's almost as if he knows he doesn't

have the strength in himself to

resist the dark temptations that are

stirring in him

it needs to be an external influence

from somebody

um some love and of course henry is not

going to be

that that positive external influence

he's just going to enjoy watching dorian

become the things that he suggests to

him and

we already know that basil is probably

not strong enough

to take dorian away from this dangerous

path

but he realizes that even if he is if

the paint

the painting escapes the hideousness of

sin the hideousness of

age will still be there for it um and in

dorian's mind

the sinfulness and the horror is just as

bad as the aging

because of what henry's told him about

youth and beauty being

the only thing worth having um

there's another reference there to the

um the idea of the aging of the portrait

reminds him of his grandfather who'd

been so stern to him

in his boyhood

as mr hubbard and his assistant leave

we've got this moment where the

assistant

looks at dorian and it's described as

he'd never seen anyone so marvelous

again this reaction that everyone has to

their first meeting of dorian

dorian locks the door puts the key in

his pocket and he feels safe no one

would ever look upon the horrible thing

no r but his would ever see his shame

but he still feels moments

of paranoia because he worries about his

manservant victor who he said he would

be sure to miss the picture

because it's now this blank space and he

feels

um as almost as if he's being watched

now we know that

his man 7 probably doesn't think won't

think um

you know give a second thought to the

painting which has now been moved

but because this is such a massive um

influence in dorian's life he's more

concerned about it than perhaps he

should be

and so when lord henry sends over

a newspaper and he circled

um this information about the verdict of

death by misadventure

in other words it was the results of the

inquest on sybil's death

it expresses sympathy for the mother who

is greatly affected

obviously she had to give evidence and

she felt awful about her daughter's

death

i think that's just reminding us about

how little dorian feels

over sibyl's death as well but dorian

he doesn't want to even think about it

he tears the paper and flings the pieces

away

and it's ugly he doesn't want to think

about it because

he just wants to foot his life with

beauty and this is something he'd rather

forget

obviously it's too uncomfortable to

remember or dwell on things

that make us feel bad um

and he's angry with lord henry for

circling it

because he thought victor might have

read it so again this

sort of pervading paranoia that's coming

over him

but he tries to cheer himself up and say

well it doesn't matter because he didn't

have anything to do with sybil's death

this inquest tells us it's death by

misadventure

and there's no mention of dorian there

so he can breathe easy

even though we've got this image of this

poor morning mother in our minds that

doesn't seem to bother dorian at all

he says well it doesn't matter because i

didn't kill her

and then the last little bits of this

chapter which is quite important

it's the delivery of the yellow book

that lord henry sends for dorian he

sends it to dorian

to take his mind perhaps of

[Music]

the the whole civil um

unfortunate civil events and it's a

story about a young parisian who spends

his life trying to realize all the

passions and modes of thought

that belong to every century very

similar to dorian

this pursuit of passion and

he notes that poisonous book because

it's kind of filled with the ideas that

one shouldn't think about

but he reads on and he becomes obsessed

with this book

um and he's late for reading

for um for meeting lord henry and lord

he says i'm sorry but it's because the

book you sent me fascinated me so

and then they talk about the difference

between liking something

and being fascinated by it and lord

henry is interested that

dorian has noticed there's a difference