CHAPTER THIRTEEN
From LAWLER 274: Wilde added chapters 15-18 here in 1891. Lippincott's chapter 13 was then divided into chapters 19 and 20 (1891).
ZABROUSKI: In summary, chapters 15-18 describe Dorian Gray's character deterioration. - In Chapter 15, Dorian flirts with bored noblewomen at a dinner party, and ends up leaving early to abuse opium. - In Chapter 16, Dorian travels to an opium den in London and has a run-in with Sibyl Vane's brother, James Vane. James had been on the hunt for Dorian to avenge his dead sister, but once faced with the young Dorian, he assumes he was mistaken and had been following the wrong man. After the men part ways, James learns that he was fooled and resolves to hunt down Dorian again. The concept of Dorian's inability to age further plays into the fantastical nature of the novel. - In Chapter 17, Dorian entertains guests at his estate in Shelby, and they discuss the beauty of art. Dorian sees James out in the conservatory, and he faints from terror. - In Chapter 18, Dorian hides indoors for two days before gaining the courage to venture outside. Later in the day, he attends a shooting party in the park, and, attempting to shoot a hare, shoots and kills a man (it is later revealed in this chapter that the man was in fact James Vane). When Dorian claims the incident was a "bad omen," Lord Henry disagrees and tries to change the subject; he teases Dorian about his relations with a duchess. Dorian shuts down Lord Henry's teasing and says, "I wish I could love." This loaded utterance could possibly reference Dorian's poor mental state resulting in his inability to love, or his inability to love a woman. Either way, it is unclear what Dorian exactly means.