There was one person who never forgot Dorian Gray. Mrs. Vane lived alone in her small room near the theater. She had lost both her children because of him. Sibyl had killed herself for love of him. James had died trying to avenge his sister. When she heard of Dorian's death, she felt nothing. Her heart had died long ago. Along with her beautiful daughter. Along with her brave son. She had a small photograph of Sibyl in her costume. Sibyl as Juliet, young and full of hope. Before she met her Prince Charming. Before love became her tragedy. Mrs. Vane thought about justice often. Dorian had lived in luxury for eighteen years. While she had lived in poverty and grief. Was his death really justice? Or just the end of a story? She would never know what really happened. The newspapers called it a mysterious suicide. They did not mention Sibyl or James. To the world, the Vanes were nobody. Just poor actors in a shabby theater. Not worth remembering. But Mrs. Vane remembered. Every night, she remembered. The little theater still performed Shakespeare. New actresses played Juliet now. None of them as talented as Sibyl had been. None of them with her fire, her passion. Sibyl could have been a great star. If she had not given her heart away. If she had not loved so completely. Love had destroyed her acting. And then it destroyed her life. Mrs. Vane died a year after Dorian. Alone and forgotten in her small room. No one came to her funeral. The photograph of Sibyl was buried with her. The last memory of the Vane family. Gone forever. The world moved on, as it always does. New scandals replaced old ones. New beautiful people became famous. New young men fell under the spell of pleasure. The lesson of Dorian Gray was quickly forgotten. Or perhaps it was never really learned. People still worship beauty above all else. They still fear growing old. They still make bargains they will regret. The portrait of Dorian Gray watches them all. From its frame on some collector's wall. Silent and beautiful and knowing. It has seen it all before. The vanity. The corruption. The fall. And it will see it all again. Because human nature never changes. We always want what we cannot have. We always fear what we cannot escape. Age. Death. The loss of beauty. These fears drive us to terrible bargains. Sometimes with others. Sometimes with ourselves. Sometimes with darker powers still. Dorian Gray made his choice long ago. In a studio full of roses and summer light. He wished to stay young forever. His wish was granted. And he paid the ultimate price. As we all must, in the end.
B1Chapter 19 / 20459 words70 sentences
Chapter 19: A New Life?
Chapter 19 · The Picture of Dorian Gray · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Dorian tells Lord Henry he wants to be good now. He has spared a village girl he could have corrupted. But when he checks the portrait, it looks even worse.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How did Mrs. Vane lose both her children?
2
What did Mrs. Vane feel when she heard of Dorian's death?
3
What happened to Mrs. Vane one year after Dorian's death?
4