The picture of Dorian Gray - The Artist - The Young man in love
The theatre was crowded and noisy, but when Sybil Vane appeared, everyone became
silent. She was one of the most beautiful girls that Lord Henry had ever seen.
‘Lovely! Lovely!’ he said softly. But although Sybil looked beautiful, Her
voice sounded unnatural. She spoke Juliet’s words, but there was no feeling in
them. Her voice was lovely, but it took away all the life form the words. People
in the theatre began talking loudly, and after half an hour Lord Henry stood up
and put on his coat. ‘She’s very beautiful Dorian, but she’s not an
actress,’ he said. ‘Let’s go.’ ‘I think that Mrs. Vane must be ill,’
added Basil. ‘We’ll come another night.’ Dorian did not look at them.
‘Go away. I want to be alone,’ he said miserably, and as his friends left,
he covered his face with his hands.
When the play came to its painful end, Dorian went
to see Sybil. ‘I wasn’t very good Juliet tonight,’ she said, and looked at
him with love in her eyes. ‘You were terrible,’ said Dorian coldly. ‘My
friends were bored. I was bored. I suppose you were ill.’ She did not seem to
hear him. ‘Dorian,’ she cried, ‘before I knew you, the theatre was my only
life. I though that it was all true. I knew nothing but shadows and I thought
that they were real. But you’ve taught me
the difference between art and life. How can I pretend to be Juliet – to feel
Juliet’s love, when I know what true love is?’
