The+Picture+of+Dorian+Grey

Jonathan Layne Honors English March 11, 2010


 * Chapter 1 (Basil and Lord Henry)**

1) Basil is an attractive character. This can be seen in the way Harry views him. "My dear Basil, you are so much more than an acquaintance" (6). He's a friendly and curious character who dedicates himself to his work. He's also jealous since he doesn't want anyone to have Dorian but himself. Unlike Basil, Harry, has differing philosophies about art, ideas, and people. He's very cynical and judgmental. For instance, he is married but both him and his spouse live in secrecy of each other. He says that living as a married man "makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties", to which Basil responds, "I hate the way you talk about your married life" (3). It's hard to say that Harry has any intimate feelings for humanity since he's judgmental and has a narrow view of the goodness in people. The way he talks about his friends, acquaintances, and enemies tells that he puts many people in boxes. He even addresses the proletariat as drunk, stupid, and immoral hypocrites and suggests that there is a correct way to live.

2) Oddly, Basil has a high personal regard for Dorian. Without going into much detail as to why this is, Basil explains that Dorian has brought a new personality to him and his art. He claims that the picture of Dorian Gray embodies his soul. He fears that the audience would belittle what Dorian means to him. On one hand, he's afraid that his soul would be revealed. On the other, he's afraid that the audience will only see the sitter and not the painter. In both interpretations, it's apparent that Basil doesn't want anyone to have Dorian but himself.

3) Harry terrifies Dorian. He gives Dorian the fear of growing old and losing his youthful beauty. In just a short walk through Basil's garden, Harry manipulates Dorian into a state of tremendous fright. Harry chooses Dorian as his disciple because he sees him as someone that can be easily molded.


 * Chapter 2 (Dorian's Wish)**

I'm not too familiar with Faustian tales but I think Dorian's situation is relative since Oscar has introduced Dorian's crisis of an insatiable desire to be young forever. Eternal youth is not an earthly gift, thus it must be given by something or someone supernatural - the devil. Although this wish cannot really be granted, he seeks refuge in Harry's supposed words of wisdom. I believe Harry fits the role of the devil in this respect.


 * Chapter 3 (Lord Henry's Philosophies)**

1) "To get back one's youth, one has merely to repeat one's follies."

Depending on the definition of youth, this quote can be both true and false. As clearly mentioned, Dorian associates youth with his physical appearance (Anything more than that isn't clearly communicated to me). This quote is wrong in the regard to the aphorism, "Lost time is never found." One can't get rid of the change in one's physical appearance. What makes this quote true is the fact that one's mental state during youth can remain unchanged. Also, one's mental state can revert back to how it was at the time of youth. In the end, this quote can be true and false depending on the observer of it.

2) Harry vaguely communicates the notion of the virtuosity of youth during his monologue that's spoken to Dorian. One virtue mentioned is the ethical conduct in the face of temptation, that is to yield to temptation - the moral of not living in self-denial of one's desires. He believes that one shouldn't starve oneself of pleasure. In regard to temptation, Harry's moral is to breaking one's morals. __Harry's moral is hedonism__//.// This is odd in respect to conventional morality since we think of morality as principles of regulation made for the purpose of resisting temptation. As such, people believe that hedonism is a type of conduct that must be regulated. In contrast, Harry is right to say hedonism IS a moral. Hedonism = doctrine of seeking out pleasure = principle = rule = regulation = control = moral. In other words, Harry has revealed that morals are subjective and can be contorted to be any kind of behavior one wants.


 * Chapter 4-8 (Sibyl Vane)**

Sibyl Vane is a poor, but beautiful and talented actress that Dorian falls in love with. Dorian loves Sibyl for her performances, but when she cannot perform well anymore, he ceases to love her. His disgusting reaction to her performance reveals how heartless he is. Because of this, she commits suicide. Before Dorian know this, though, he writes a letter to her, apologizing on account of his portrait being altered due to the pain he has caused her. Subsequently, Dorian no longer feels of remorse towards her death. Rather, he chooses to live a life of pleasure and surprisingly attends an opera with Harry not to long after all of this had happened.


 * Chapter 8-10 (The Portrait)**

1 / 2) At first, Dorian falls in love with the portrait that Basil has painted of him. He believes it to be a symbol of his innocence and beauty. With this in mind, Dorian swears to himself to do his best to never let the portrait change. Slowly but surely, the portrait begins to change with every passing moment that he commits an act that infringes on his own sense of morality, which is also influenced by Harry. His pact is forever at odds with his self-conscious. Though he's loved Sibyl, his/Harry's philosophy of hedonism stipulates that he remain a pleasure-seeking **individual**. Harry's doctrine of individuality impedes on Dorian's yearning for true love because it favors vanity and selfishness. Dorian locks the painting up in his attic in an attempt to seal his pact. In order to live a life of vanity that is free of self-reproach, he believes hiding it from others will do this.


 * Chapter 11**

Dorian has managed to maintain his physical beauty while his portrait has become ugly (as it represents his morality). It's hard to feel any kind of sympathy for him now since he's sunken himself deeper within a life of fear. Chapter 11 also describes his never-ending search for passion. For example, the narrator describes him as being a connoisseur of jewelry, music, embroidery, perfumes, etc. While he occupies himself with these trivial curiosities, he feels alien to himself. Some people find him charming because of his innocent-looking face; others despise him for his immorality.

Quotes of interest