The Picture Of Dorian Gray

The Picture of
Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
retold by
Jill Nevile

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
1989

T HE 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 anopen 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 with love
- 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.

O XFORD BOOKWORMS
Series Editor: Tricia HedgeThe Artist
'I have put too much of
myself into this painting.'

1

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 itstood the artist
himself, Basil Hallward.
' It's your best work, Basil, the best portrait that you've ever
p ainted,' 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 thenyou'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
d on'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
andtrouble.'
'Dorian Gray? Is that his name?' asked Lord Henry.
'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 wifenever 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 thatyou've ever painted,
said Lord Henry.

I

n the garden the leaves shone in 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

The Artist

'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?'...