Learning English Stories Classic Stories: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Mar 2, 2026
A dramatized reading of Oscar Wilde’s haunting tale about a portrait that bears the cost of a man’s sins. Tension builds as influence, vanity and moral decay take hold. Scandal, a ruined love, a shocking confrontation and a desperate final act drive the story forward.
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How Dorian's Deal Begins
- Tim retells Dorian Gray's origin: Basil paints Dorian and Henry's comment prompts Dorian to wish his portrait ages instead of him.
- Dorian's spoken curse—"I would give my soul to stay young"—sets the supernatural bargain in motion.
Corruption Through Charm And Influence
- Tim shows Lord Henry's influence corrupts Dorian, shifting him from innocent lover to infamous libertine.
- Over years Dorian pursues pleasure, breaks engagements, and newspapers paint a shocking picture of his wicked exploits.
Sybil's Tragic Love Story
- Tim narrates Dorian's romance with Sybil, an actress whose acting collapses after she falls in love with him.
- Dorian cruelly rejects her after a poor performance and later the distraught Sybil kills herself.
