[adapted]

by
Oscar Wilde

The Preface

The artist creates beautiful things. Art should show beauty, not the artist. A critic explains beauty in a new way. When people judge art, they often show their own thoughts and feelings. Some people find ugly meanings in beautiful things. This shows something is wrong in them. Others see beauty in beautiful things. These people understand art better.

There is no moral or immoral book. A book is either well written or badly written. Artists do not try to prove ideas. They use words and thoughts as tools. They use good and bad actions as material for art. Art can show everything.

Art is both surface and symbol. Some people look deeper, but this can be dangerous. Art reflects the viewer, not life itself. Different opinions about art mean the work is new and important. When critics disagree, the artist still follows their own vision. People forgive useful things, but they admire useless things more when they are beautiful. All art is quite useless.

Chapter I

The studio smelled of roses and flowers from the garden. A warm summer wind moved the air. Lord Henry Wotton lay on a sofa and smoked. He looked at the garden and enjoyed the quiet sound of bees. Far away, he could hear the noise of London. In the center of the room stood a large portrait of a very beautiful young man. The painter, Basil Hallward, sat and looked at it with pleasure.

“This is your best work, Basil,” said Lord Henry. “You should show it in an exhibition.”

“I will not show it,” Basil said.

Lord Henry was surprised. “Why not? This painting will make you famous.”

“I have put too much of myself into it,” Basil said.

Lord Henry laughed. “You do not look like this young man. He is very beautiful.”

Basil shook his head. “You do not understand. We will all suffer for our gifts. Your rank, my art, and Dorian Gray’s beauty.”

“Dorian Gray?” said Lord Henry. “So that is his name.”

Basil hesitated, then said, “Yes. I did not want to tell you.”

“Why?”

“When I care about someone, I keep their name secret,” Basil said. “It makes life more interesting.”

Lord Henry smiled. “I am married. Secrets are normal for me.”

Basil did not like this joke. They walked into the garden and sat down.

After a moment, Lord Henry asked again, “Why will you not show the portrait?”

Basil looked at him. “Because it shows my soul.”

Lord Henry laughed, but Basil was serious.

After some time, Basil began to explain.

“Two months ago, I went to a party at Lady Brandon’s house. There were many boring people. Then I saw a young man. It was Dorian Gray.”

“When I saw him, I felt afraid. I knew he would change my life. I tried to leave, but I met him. We spoke and became friends at once.”

Lord Henry listened with interest. “And what did Lady Brandon say about him?” he asked.

“She said he was charming, but she did not know much about him,” Basil said.

Lord Henry laughed. “That sounds like her.”

Basil continued, “Now I see Dorian every day. I need him. He is everything to my art.”

“That is strange,” said Lord Henry. “I must meet him.”

Basil stood up and walked. Then he came back.

“Dorian inspires me,” he said. “He helps me see beauty in a new way. But I will not show the portrait. It shows how much he means to me.”

Lord Henry smiled. “Does Dorian like you?”

“Yes,” Basil said. “But sometimes he hurts me without knowing it.”

Lord Henry lit a cigarette. “Beauty does not last,” he said. “You may change your mind one day.”

“No,” Basil said. “Dorian is very important to me.”

Just then, a servant came into the garden.

“Mr. Dorian Gray is in the studio, sir,” he said.

Lord Henry stood up. “You must introduce me.”

Basil looked worried. “Dorian is my friend. Do not try to influence him. Your ideas are dangerous.”

Lord Henry smiled and took Basil’s arm. They went into the house together.

Chapter II

When Basil and Lord Henry went into the studio, they saw Dorian Gray at the piano. He was looking at some music.

“You must lend me this music, Basil,” Dorian said. “I want to learn it.”

“That depends on how well you sit for me today,” Basil answered.

Dorian turned and saw Lord Henry. He stood up at once. “I am sorry, Basil. I did not know you had a visitor.”

Basil introduced them. “This is Lord Henry Wotton, an old friend of mine.”

Lord Henry shook Dorian’s hand. “My aunt often speaks about you. You are one of her favorites.”

Dorian smiled. “I forgot to go with her to Whitechapel last week. I am afraid to visit her now.”

Lord Henry laughed and began to talk to him in his easy, charming way. Basil watched them and looked uneasy. Then he said, “Harry, I want to finish this portrait today. Would you mind going away?”

But Dorian did not want Lord Henry to leave. “Please stay,” he said. “Basil is silent when he paints. It is very dull. I want you to talk to me.” Basil gave in. Dorian stepped onto the platform again. Basil began to paint. Lord Henry sat near him and watched.

After a moment, Dorian asked, “Have you really a bad influence, Lord Henry?”

“There is no good influence,” Lord Henry said. “To influence someone is to make him live by another person’s ideas. A person should live their own life. People are afraid of themselves. They are afraid of their wishes and their feelings.”

Basil interrupted him once or twice to correct Dorian’s pose, but Lord Henry went on speaking in his soft voice. He spoke about youth, desire, and the need to live fully before time takes everything away. He said that the only way to cure the soul was through the senses, and that resisting desire only made it stronger.