Chapter 3

Text of Book

Chapter 3, page 1

Chapter 3, page 2

Chapter 3, page 3

Chapter 3, page 4

Chapter 3, page 5

Chapter 3, page 6

Chapter 3, page 7

Chapter 3, page 8

Chapter 3, page 9

Chapter 3, page 10

Chapter 3, page 11

Chapter 3, page 12

Chapter 3, page 13

Chapter 3, page 14

Chapter 3, page 15

Chapter 3, page 16

Chapter 3, page 17

Questions

1)	What is this chapter mainly about?

2)	What is the tone of the first paragraph in the chapter?

3)

Dorian begins telling the story of meeting Sibyl Vane like this: "One evening about seven o'clock I determined to go out in search of some adventure. I felt that this gray, monstrous London of ours, with its myriads of people, its splendid sinners, and its sordid sins, as you once said, must have something in store for me. I fancied a thousand things." What does "myriads" mean?

4)

Harry Wotton discourages Dorian from believing that the affair with Sibyl Vane is the greatest romance of his life: "You should say the first romance of your life. You will always be loved, and you will always be in love with love. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning." What does "exquisite" mean?

5)

Dorian explains his view of the difference between "ordinary women" and actresses: "They are limited to their century. No glamour ever transfigures them. One knows their minds as easily as one knows their bonnets. One can always find them. There is no mystery in one of them. They ride in the Park in the morning, and chatter at tea–parties in the afternoon. They have their stereotyped smile, and their fashionable manner. They are quite obvious. But an actress! How different an actress is!" What does "stereotyped" mean?

6)	Lord Wotton seems to cultivate personal relationships as a way of studying human nature. He appears to consider Dorian the subject of an experiment, noting that "[Dorian]'s sudden mad love for Sibyl Vane was a psychological phenomenon of no small interest." What does "phenomenon" mean?

7)	After Dorian leaves for the theater, Wotton changes clothes and goes out for dinner. He returns home late, after midnight, and finds a telegram waiting for him. What news does the telegram contain?

8)	Were there any events that weren't clear to you?