Dorian's Obsession with the Portrait

Dorian's intense, almost erotic relationship with the portrait, viewing it as a rival and a necessary companion.

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The First Admiration

The First Admiration The Revelation of Self-Beauty Dorian sees the portrait and is struck by his own beauty. He feels a 'sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation.' He is captivated by the image. The Jealousy of the Portrait Dorian becomes jealous of the portrait because it will remain young while he ages. This jealousy fuels his wish. He already sees the portrait as a rival.

The Imprisoned Image

The Imprisoned Image The Secret Keeper Dorian locks the portrait away, but he cannot stop thinking about it. He visits it obsessively, sometimes to gloat, sometimes to shudder. The portrait becomes his secret companion. The Love-Hate Relationship Dorian both loves and hates the portrait. He loves its power to keep him young, but he hates the ugliness it reveals. He is emotionally dependent on it.

The Ritual of Comparison

The Ritual of Comparison The Narcissistic Gaze Dorian stands before the portrait with a mirror, comparing his own face with the painted one. He takes 'monstrous and terrible delight' in the contrast. The ritual is a form of self-worship and self-loathing. The Inescapable Bond This ritual becomes a compulsion. Dorian cannot stay away from the portrait for long. It is the center of his emotional life, more important than any human relationship.

The Portrait as Confidant

The Portrait as Confidant The Only Witness The portrait is the only living witness to Dorian's crimes. He talks to it, rails against it, and feels it is the only thing that truly knows him. Their bond is one of shared guilt. The Tyranny of the Image Dorian is now a slave to the portrait. He cannot destroy it, yet he cannot bear to look at it. The portrait has become his master, dictating his every fear.

The Final Break

The Final Break The Attempted Murder of the Image Dorian decides to destroy the portrait, hoping to free himself. He stabs it, but the act kills him. The bond is severed only in death. The Reunion in Death When the portrait returns to its original beauty, and Dorian's body becomes hideous, the exchange is complete. The obsession has consumed him entirely.

When the portrait is finished, Chapter II

After hiding the portrait, Chapter VIII

Throughout Dorian's life, Chapter IX

After Basil's murder, Chapter XII

Dorian's death, Chapter XIII