The Sibyl Vane Family Tragedy

The collateral damage of Dorian's rejection: Sibyl's mother, the Vane family, and the aftermath of the suicide.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Sibyl's Mother

Sibyl's Mother The Faded Woman Sibyl lives with her mother, a tired actress who played Lady Capulet in a magenta wrapper. She seems to have seen better days. The mother is a marginal figure, but she is dependent on Sibyl's income. The Hidden Life Dorian does not want to know Sibyl's history. The mother is part of the sordid reality that Dorian ignores. Her presence foreshadows the tragedy.

The Inquest

The Inquest The Official Verdict An inquest is held at the Bell Tavern. The verdict is death by misadventure. The mother gives evidence, greatly affected. The newspaper reports the bare facts, devoid of the romance Dorian sees. The Legal Closure Dorian's name is not mentioned. The case is closed quickly. But the mother is left alone and destitute. The tragedy is real and ugly, not artistic.

Basil's Concern

Basil's Concern The Human Cost Basil Hallward asks Dorian if he visited the mother. Basil is horrified that Dorian went to the opera instead. He sees the mother's grief as a real sorrow, not a theatrical spectacle. The Contrast Basil's compassion highlights Dorian's callousness. Dorian refuses to discuss any 'horrid subjects.' The mother's fate becomes a symbol of the suffering Dorian causes.

The Unvisited Grave

The Unvisited Grave The Forgotten Victim Dorian never visits Sibyl's grave or seeks out her mother. He treats the event as a closed chapter. The mother vanishes from the narrative, another casualty of Dorian's pursuit of pleasure. The Pattern of Neglect Dorian's pattern of using and discarding people is exemplified by Sibyl's family. He never considers the consequences of his actions for others. This neglect is part of his moral blindness.

During the engagement period

The day after the suicide, Chapter VI

The morning after, Chapter VII

Years later