Dorian Gray Chapter 17

Question 1

How has Dorian’s character changed in regard to the pursuit of pleasure?

Answer 1

While he used to pursue pleasure for his own happiness, he pursues it now out of necessity.

Question 2

Why does Dorian faint in the garden during his party at Selby Royal?

Answer 2

He saw James Vane watching him through the window.

Question 3

What is the setting of this chapter?

Answer 3

A gathering including Dorian, Gladys the Duchess of Monmouth, Gladys’s spouse, and Henry at Dorians country estate Selby

Question 4

What is the initial discussion at the start of the chapter?

Answer 4

Dorian, the Duchess, and Lord Henry discuss Henry’s idea of renaming everything, believing that people no longer assign beautiful names to things.

Question 5

How is the relationship between Henry and the Duchess characterized?

Answer 5

As equals who engage in debate with a similar level of intellect, for they exchange witticisms, equally matched in cleverness.

Question 6

What is the first topic Henry and the Duchess discuss?

Answer 6

The Duchess accuses Henry of overvaluing beauty, while Henry disputes this asserting that he also appreciates ugliness.

Question 7

What does the topic Henry and the Duchess discuss eventually transform into?

Answer 7

The virtues of the English, the nature of love, and the significance of reputation.

Question 8

What does the duchess think about love? How does this extend to Dorian?

Answer 8

women love with their ears while men love with their eyes, and she challenges Dorian by suggesting that he has never truly been in love.

Question 9

What does Dorian seek over happiness?

Answer 9

Pleasure more than anything else

Question 10

What does Henry say about experiences and happiness?

Answer 10

Henry argues that there are few truly good experiences, and one must live a repetitive life to achieve happiness.

Question 11

What does Dorian go to do? What happens?

Answer 11

Dorian leaves to collect some orchids for the Duchess to bring home, however only minutes later is a noise heard to which the guests discover that Dorian has fainted in the adjacent room

Question 12

What does Henry do in Dorian’s absence?

Answer 12

He questions the Duchess’s flirtation to which she reveals she enjoys the challenge Dorian presents, however Henry cautions that Lady Narborough is also pursuing him.

Question 13

How much longer does this take place after the previous chapter?

Answer 13

About a week

Question 14

What name does Dorian suggest Henry’s should be?

Answer 14

Prince Paradox

Question 15

What does Henry say about ugliness?

Answer 15

It is 1 of the 7 deadly virtues

Question 16

What does Henry say about beauty?

Answer 16

It is better to be beautiful than to be good, and better to be good than ugly

Question 17

What does Henry say about art in his conversation with the Duchess?

Answer 17

It is a malady

Question 18

What does Henry say about love in his conversation with the Duchess?

Answer 18

It is an illusion

Question 19

What does Henry say about religion in his conversation with the Duchess?

Answer 19

It is a fashionable substitute for belief

Question 20

What does Henry say when called a skeptic in his conversation with the Duchess?

Answer 20

That skepticism is the beginning of faith

Question 21

What is the Duchesses’s name?

Answer 21

Gladys

Question 22

According to the Duchess what must someone be to become popular?

Answer 22

They must be mediocre

Question 23

What does Dorian say he has searched for?

Answer 23

Pleasure, not happiness

Question 24

According to Henry how does romance live? How does this affect art?

Answer 24

Romance lives by repetition, and repetition converts an appetite into an art. Besides, each time that one loves is the only time one has ever loved.

Question 25

What does Henry think the secret of life is?

Answer 25

That in life one can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret is then to reproduce that experience as often as possible