The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 2, narrated by Isaac Birchall Subscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads https://www.patreon.com/theessentialreads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join SUMMARY:

Dorian Gray seems to be just as handsome as the portrait showed him to be. Basil introduces Lord Henry to him, and Dorian asks Henry to say and talk to him while he stands because Basil never talks while painting. Basil warns Dorian that Henry is a bad influence, and Dorian seems very interested in this statement. Lord Henry agrees to stay and discusses his personal philosophy with Dorian, which is that "The highest of all duties is the duty that one owes to one's self." While Basil continues to work, Henry and Dorian head back into the garden where the Lord praises the boy's youth, and warns him how surely and quickly he will lose it. He urges Dorian to live life to the maximum, and to indulge all his fancies and to search for new sensations. Basil calls the men inside the house and Dorian sits for a few minutes longer while Dorian finishes the painting. When done Henry states that it is "the finest portrait of modern times;" Dorian looks very unhappy at the portrait. Remembering what Lord Henry told him in the garden, he reflects that he continue to age, and the picture of him will never age. He curses his fait, and utters an almost prayer saying "if it were only the other way." Basil tries to comfort his friend but Dorian pushes him away. Declaring that he will not let the portrait ruin their friendship, Basil goes to take a knife to the finished work. Dorian runs at Basil and throws the knife from his hand, saying that he loves the paining, and gladly accepts his painted gift. Needing to work, Basil refuses an invitation from Lord Henry to dine with him and Dorian, and notices a pang of pain as he sees his friends leaving together.