Certainly! Here are five major events that occur between chapters twelve and sixteen of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray":
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The Influence of Lord Henry: Dorian becomes increasingly influenced by Lord Henry Wotton’s hedonistic worldview. He begins to embrace a lifestyle centered around pleasure and beauty, leading him to indulge in various vices. This shift marks a significant turning point in Dorian's character as he pursues the idea of living life to the fullest, disregarding moral consequences.
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Dorian's First Visit to the Opera: Dorian attends the opera with Lord Henry and becomes enamored with the beautiful actress, Sibyl Vane. He is captivated by her talent and charm, which stirs up a new excitement in him. This visit symbolizes the beginning of Dorian's romantic infatuation, suggesting that he is seeking beauty in others to reflect his own desires.
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The Decline of Sibyl Vane: As Dorian falls in love with Sibyl, her acting begins to deteriorate due to her infatuation with him. Her performances lack the passion and skill they once had, as her focus shifts completely to Dorian. This decline illustrates the theme of the impact of love and obsession on artistic expression and personal identity.
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Dorian's Decision to Eliminate the Portrait's Curse: Dorian notices that his portrait reflects the degradation of his soul while he remains outwardly unchanged. He expresses the desire to maintain his youthful beauty and abandon the responsibilities of a moral life. This decision leads him to treat the painting as a separate extension of himself, reinforcing the book's exploration of duality and the relationship between appearance and reality.
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The Death of Sibyl Vane: After a disastrous performance, Sibyl tells Dorian that she can no longer act now that she is in love. Following their engagement, he visits her, but upon seeing her deep despair and realizing that her love doesn't meet his aesthetic ideals, he cruelly dismisses her. Sibyl later commits suicide, an act that propels Dorian deeper into his hedonistic lifestyle, intensifying his descent into moral corruption and guilt as he begins to understand the consequences of his actions.
These events illustrate Dorian Gray's increasingly conflicted journey between beauty, morality, and the eventual collapse of his once innocent nature.