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THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY - CHARACTER LIST
Dorian Gray -
A radiantly handsome, impressionable, and wealthy young
gentleman, whose portrait the artist Basil Hallward paints.
Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian becomes
extremely concerned with the transience of his beauty and
begins to pursue his own pleasure above all else. He devotes
himself to having as many experiences as possible, whether
moral or immoral, elegant or sordid.
Lord Henry Wotton -
A nobleman and a close friend of Basil Hallward. Urbane and
witty, Lord Henry is perpetually armed and ready with well-phrased
epigrams criticizing the moralism and hypocrisy of Victorian
society. His pleasure-seeking philosophy of “new Hedonism,”
which espouses garnering experiences that stimulate the
senses without regard for conventional morality, plays a
vital role in Dorian’s development.
Basil Hallward - An artist, and a friend of Lord Henry. Basil becomes obsessed with Dorian after meeting him at a party. He claims that Dorian possesses a beauty so rare that it has helped him realize a new kind of art; through Dorian, he finds “the lines of a fresh school.” Dorian also helps Basil realize his artistic potential, as the portrait of Dorian that Basil paints proves to be his masterpiece.
Sibyl Vane -
A poor, beautiful, and talented actress with whom Dorian
falls in love. Sibyl’s love for Dorian compromises her
ability to act, as her experience of true love in life
makes her realize the falseness of affecting emotions
onstage.
James Vane -
Sibyl’s brother, a sailor bound for Australia. James cares
deeply for his sister and worries about her relationship
with Dorian. Distrustful of his mother’s motives, he
believes that Mrs. Vane’s interest in Dorian’s wealth
disables her from properly protecting Sibyl. As a result,
James is hesitant to leave his sister.
Mrs. Vane -
Sibyl and James’s mother. Mrs. Vane is a faded actress who
has consigned herself and her daughter to a tawdry theater
company, the owner of which has helped her to pay her
debts. She conceives of Dorian Gray as a wonderful
alliance for her daughter because of his wealth; this
ulterior motive, however, clouds her judgment and leaves
Sibyl vulnerable.
Alan Campbell -
Once an intimate friend, Alan Campbell is one of many
promising young men who have severed ties with Dorian
because of Dorian’s sullied reputation.
Lady Agatha -
Lord Henry’s aunt. Lady Agatha is active in charity work in
the London slums.
Lord Fermor - Lord
Henry’s irascible uncle. Lord Fermor tells Henry the story
of Dorian’s parentage.
Duchess of Monmouth -
A pretty, bored young noblewoman who flirts with Dorian at
his country estate.
Victoria Wotton -
Lord Henry’s wife. Victoria appears only once in the novel,
greeting Dorian as he waits for Lord Henry. She is described
as an untidy, foolishly romantic woman with “a perfect mania
for going to church.”
Victor -
Dorian’s servant. Although Victor is a trustworthy servant,
Dorian becomes suspicious of him and sends him out on
needless errands to ensure that he does not attempt to steal
a glance at Dorian’s portrait.
Mrs. Leaf
- Dorian Gray’s housekeeper. Mrs.
Leaf is a bustling older woman who takes her work seriously.