The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 12

 On the night before Dorian’s 38th birthday, as he walks down a fog-shrouded street, he passes Basil. Dorian tries to avoid contact, but Basil sees him, and they speak. The two go to Dorian’s home. 

Basil mentions that he will be leaving for a few months to go to Paris. Before leaving, he wanted to warn Dorian that people had been talking, and the rumors about Dorian were serious, saying that he was a terrible man, with terrible behavior. Dorian claims that the rumors cannot be true, as evidenced by the fact that sin and vice show on a man’s face, and clearly, his face remains pure. 

Basil then demands to know why Dorian has a grim record of friendships terminated under terrible circumstances. Some have ended in suicide, while other companions of Dorian have ended up with ruined careers, tarnished reputations, or even a “terrible end.” Basil admonishes Dorian for being a terrible influence on these younger men. He implores Dorian to use his influence for good, not for destructive and damaging things. Basil even muses that he feels that he does not even know who the real Dorian is. 

Dorian cynically laughs and tells Basil that he will get his wish. Dorian promises to let Basil see his soul. Basil protests, saying that it is impossible to see such a thing, and challenges Dorian to simply deny the things that people have claimed against him. 

Dorian then says that he will show Basil the proof, the story of his life. 

Analysis

This chapter serves as a set-up for major events to take place in the following chapter. We see two main characters, who have presumably not spoken for many years, reunited. They speak of Dorian’s continually degrading reputation, and Dorian prepares to reveal his deepest, darkest secret.