“I know he likes me. Of course I flatter him dreadfully. I find a strange pleasure in saying things to him that I know I shall be sorry for having said. As a rule, he is charming to me, and we sit in the studio talking of a thousand things. Now and then, however, he is horribly thoughtless, and seems to take a real delight in giving me pain. Then I feel, Harry, that I have given away my whole soul to someone who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat, a bit of decoration to charm his vanity, an ornament for a summer’s day.”
Wilde, pp. 6
Comments
This paragraph really stood out to me as a characterization of Dorian Gray before we, the reader, even meet him. From the artist Basil’s description, I get the impression that Dorian is both alluring and vain, charming and uncaring of any genuine feelings towards him. The whole passage reads like someone explaining their unrequited crush to a close friend. In the next scene, we meet the man Dorian Gray and he seems to live up to his reputation, with some notable ‘quirks’. He is very handsome and demanding of Basil, like what was suggested in the lead up, but he is also very friendly to Lord Henry and demands that he stays while he sits for a painting. During this sitting, Henry monologues to Gray about the philosophy of sin and morality, saying that temptations should be yielded to and that monstrosity is subjective to society. After freaking Dorian out a little bit, he meets him in the garden, where he encourages him to live his young life to the fullest while he still has it. At heart, Henry’s philosophy values self-indulgence, beauty, and youth as the most worthwhile currency in life. This advice clearly resonates with Gray, as when they go back inside, he expresses his depression that the portrait of him will remain young and beautiful forever while he will age. This sets into motion Gray’s motivations and values for the rest of the book. He knows the power he holds due to his beauty and youth, and he will do anything to hold onto it.
Questions
How effective or true is this philosophy of beauty?
What role does the Aestheticism art movement play in the development of the philosophy and Dorian’s story?
How does Dorian Gray compare to Dr. Jekyll’s story?
