As our story nears its magnificent end, we enter the world of Dorian in ruminating retreat. Alone in the darkness of his heart, wrestling with the splendour of his eternal youth and the ghastly image that is preserved in the attic, all while pondering the difficulty of escape from the sins of his past, and the cruel proof of his degeneration.
In this chapter, we find Dorian grappling with memories of his past manipulations, particularly the naiveté of the young and naïve girl who loved him so sincerely with the understanding that he was a poor man. Reminiscing her innocent laughter, Dorian is faced with a sharp longing for the purity and grace of his own youth, hence shadowing the grim reality of his misdemeanors which have not left him, but rather scarred him profoundly.
He contemplates upon the provoking statements of his dubious confidant, Lord Henry, challenging the notion of immutability. Can the harm already done be undone? Can a man who has sinned so deeply and affected many lives negatively be saved? Amid these deliberations, the beautifully monstrous portrait looms in his mind. It is a constant reminder of all his sins, each degradation emphasized in the contorted and perverse image.
Dorian grapples with the consequences of his actions, specifically the gruesome death of Basil Hallward and the impact this has had on his own soul. Amidst the turmoil, he yearns for a new beginning, a fresh start where his sins will cease to haunt him. However, with the likeness of himself hidden in his attic, he is confronted with the truth of his own nature.
In the dramatic climax that ensues, Dorian makes a radical decision—one that would seal his fate forever—-a desperate attempt to exterminate the evidence of his debaucheries.
