The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 18
The following day, Dorian refuses to leave his house and spends most of the day inside his own room. He is consumed with the fear of James, seeing his face in the window every time he closes his eyes.
After a while, though, Dorian begins to question himself. He wonders if he truly saw James, or if perhaps his own guilty conscience might have simply tricked him into seeing things that were not actually there. Even this thought terrifies him, and he wonders if he will ever rest again.
Finally, on the third day after believing that he saw James, Dorian goes outside to walk the estate. He vows not to let this incident affect him, believing it to be against his nature. He goes about his day rather routinely, having breakfast with the duchess, then joining the group to go sports shooting. At one point, a hare is spotted, and Dorian asks his companions not to shoot it, as he finds it intriguing and beautiful as it runs. However, his request is not granted, and a shot is fired toward the hare by Sir Geoffrey Clouston (who is Lady Monmouth’s brother). The gunshot is immediately followed by the shout of a man in the direction the shot was fired.
Some of the group run to where the sound came from, only to find the body of the man who had just been shot. Dorian is rather disturbed by this accident, telling Lord Henry that he feels as though this is a bad omen. Lord Henry scoffs at the idea, saying that there is no such thing as omens. Lord Henry tries to lighten the mood, discussing Gladys’ flirtation with Dorian, but Dorian is not interested in the teasing. He tells Lord Henry that he wishes that he could love, but that he cannot.
Dorian goes to his room, where the groundskeeper comes to talk to Dorian later. Dorian assumes that the gunshot victim was a servant, and promises to see that the family is taken care of financially. The groundskeeper, however, says that while the body was unidentified, they were able to determine that it was the body of a sailor.
Immediately, Dorian insists on seeing the body and goes to where it is located. He is able to identify it as the body of James Vane. He is then nearly overcome with relief and joy that he no longer has to fear being killed by James.
Analysis
The idyllic peacefulness of the country estate is again marred by a frightening event. A man is killed in an accidental shooting. Dorian’s terror is reignited, as he fears not only James Vane, but the powers that control destiny as well.
Notably, Lord Henry seems to show little regard or concern for the shooting victim. Lord Henry is more concerned about his friend’s reputation, and not being known as a “wild shot.”
But when it is discovered that the dead man is James, Dorian’s relief is great. He feels that his worries are over and that he no longer needs to keep an eye over his shoulder, wondering when the man hunting him will appear to finish the job.
