Presentacion

The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
retold by Jill Nevile

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1989

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Stage 3

Can a painting of a person tell you more about him than the person's own face? If it is painted with love, perhaps the painting will show more than just the outside of that person — perhaps ir will show the inside. We often say that a face is like an open book:'the face tells its own story,' we say. When Dorian Gray sees the painting of his own face, he falls in love with his own beauty. Nothing must touch his beauty, nothing must hurt or change it — not love, not even time. And so he cuts the link between his face and his heart, between his outside and his inside. His face does not change; it stays young and beautiful. But the picture - painted withlove - tells the true story. It shows the real Dorian Gray, who is growing old and ugly and full of hate.

Oscar Wilde {1854-1900} was one of Ireland's best and cleverest writers. His plays and children's stories, as well as The Picture of Dorian Gray, are still enjoyed today, although they were written almost 100 years ago.

OXFORD BOOKWORMS
Series Editor: Tricia Hedge

The Artist
'I haveput too much of myself into this painting.'

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T

hrough the open windows of the room came the rich scent of summer flowers. Lord Henry Wotton lay back in his chair and smoked his cigarette. Beyond the soft sounds of the garden he could just hear the noise of London. In the centre of the room there was a portrait of a very beautiful young man, and in front of it stood the artist himself,Basil Hallward. 'It's your best work, Basil, the best portrait that you've ever painted,' said Lord Henry lazily. 'You must send it to the best art gallery in London.' 'No,' Basil said slowly. 'No, I won't send it anywhere.' Lord Henry was surprised. 'But my dear Basil, why not?' he asked. 'What strange people you artists are! You want to be famous, but then you're not happy when you are famous.It's bad when people talk about you - but it's much worse when they don't talk about you.' 'I know you'll laugh at me,' replied Basil, 'but I can't exhibit the picture in an art gallery. I've put too much of myself into it.' Lord Henry laughed. 'Too much of yourself into it! You don't look like him at all. He has a fair and beautiful face. And you - well, you look intelligent, of course, but withThe Picture of Dorian Gray

The Artist your strong face and black hair, you are not beautiful.' 'You don't understand me, Harry,' replied Basil. (Lord Henry's friends always called him Harry.) 'Of course I'm not like him,' Basil continued. 'In fact, I prefer not to be beautiful. Dorian Gray's beautiful face will perhaps bring him danger and trouble.' 'Dorian Gray? Is that his name?' asked LordHenry. 'Yes. But I didn't want to tell you.' 'Why not?' 'Oh, I can't explain,' said Basil. 'When I like people a lot, I never tell their names to my other friends. I love secrets, that's all.' 'Of course,' agreed his friend. 'Life is much more exciting when you have secrets. For example, I never know where my wife is, and my wife never knows what I'm doing. When we meet - and we do meet sometimes- we tell each other crazy stories, and we pretend that they're true.' 'You pretend all the time, Harry,' said Basil. 'I think that you're probably a very good husband, but you like to hide your true feelings.' 'Oh, don't be so serious, Basil,' smiled Lord Henry. 'Let's go into the garden.'

'It's the best portrait that you've ever painted, said Lord Henry.

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n the garden the leaves shonein the sunlight, and the flowers moved gently in the summer wind. The two young men sat on a long seat under the shadow of a tall

tree.

The Picture of Dorian Gray 'Before I go,' said Lord Henry, 'you must answer my question, Basil. Why won't you exhibit Dorian Gray's portrait in an art gallery?' He looked at his friend and smiled. 'Please give me the real reason, now. Not the answer that...