Basil's Studio

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde

Chapter I

The extract is taken from “The Picture of Dorian Gray” written by Oscar Wilde, chapter I. The extract introduces two characters: Basil Hallward, the painter, and his friend Lord Henry Wotton.

There is a third person omniscient narrator that uses the characters' perspective (indeed he knows everything about them). As a consequence the reader has very little freedom to make a different idea from the one given by the narrator.

In the first sequence the setting where the scene takes place is introduced using words appealing to the senses, in particular smell. The setting is Basil's studio.

The second sequence goes deeper in the description of the room. The description is detailed in an exaggerate manner that creates a sense of oppression. Reading the sequence, the reader can learn something about Lord Henry: he loves being surrounding by beautiful objects and he may visited some part of the world, he could be a rich man. All the description creates a sense of beauty that is too many and provokes a sense of something rotten.

The third sequence put on the centre of the attention the picture that Basil made, so it introduce the beautiful picture of Dorian.

In the fourth sequence the character of Basil is presented through his behaviours. Basil is satisfied of his work and he sees Dorian as his “muse”, so Basil is also jealous of him. Basil doesn't want to leave his portrait.

In the fifth sequence the reader can understand that Lord Henry is an intelligent, confident and manipulative man. He also loves luxurious surroundings.

The sixth sequence Basil says he will no send the portrait. He seems to be someone who is though of as an odd fellow.

In the seventh sequence Lord Henry doesn't agree with Basil's decision. He has a judgemental behaviour, he is an egocentric man.

In the eighth sequence Basil knows that Lord Henry will not understand him, because he is not a sentimental man. Basil put too much of himself in the portrait, so it is too personal. In addition, Basil seems jealous of the portrait and Dorian himself. He is dependent on the portrait. Dorian inspires Basil and he became his “muse”. Basil is attracted by Dorian both in a personal and professional way.

In the ninth sequence Lord Henry laughed as Basil though and this reaction confirmed Lord Henry's features.

XX