The Picture of Dorian Gray book club questions

The reading plan

Meeting 1: Chapters 1 to 5

1. When does protecting a personal attachment become unfair to the person at its center?
2. How much responsibility does Lord Henry Wotton bear for Dorian Gray's new fear of aging?
3. What makes Lord Henry Wotton's attention to Dorian Gray seem caring, controlling, or both?
4. How should we judge Dorian Gray's decision to become engaged when an actress has captivated him?
5. Where would you draw the line between James Vane's concern for Sibyl Vane and his attempt to control her romance?

Meeting 2: Chapters 6 to 11

6. What does Dorian Gray's rejection of Sibyl Vane after her performance suggest he valued in their romance?
7. How would you judge remorse prompted by a changed portrait rather than by the rejection alone?
8. Can turning grief into an artistic experience offer comfort without becoming an escape from responsibility?
9. Does Basil Hallward's confession of devotion give him any claim to Dorian Gray's honesty?
10. Does locking away the portrait suggest control over the secret, fear of it, or both?

Meeting 3: Chapters 12 to 20

11. What right does Basil Hallward have to demand the truth about Dorian Gray's scandals and influence?
12. What does Dorian Gray's response to Basil Hallward's appeal for repentance suggest about his willingness to face judgment?
13. How should coercion affect our judgment of Alan Campbell's role in destroying evidence?
14. What does Dorian Gray's youthful face suggest about the fairness of judging people by their appearance?
15. How does relief at the hunting victim's identity shape your judgment of Dorian Gray's fear?

Themes to talk about

Tips for the host

1. Open each meeting with one question everyone can answer, then go deeper.
2. Anyone who fell behind can catch up with the 15-minute summary.