When Lord Henry expresses his desire to meet Gray, Basil explains that he wants to
keep Dorian
and the painting hidden away so that neither Dorian nor the world will ever know about his “curious artistic idolatry.” Lord Henry suggests that Basil’s feeling may pass and that he will eventually become indifferent to …
Why did Basil want Lord Henry to leave the studio?
Basil wants to
finish the portrait of Dorian
and asks Lord Henry to leave, but Dorian insists that he remain. … Dorian is intrigued that Lord Henry might be a “very bad influence.” Lord Henry responds prophetically with one of his aphorisms: “There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr.
Why does Basil refuse to do what Lord Henry wants him to do?
Basil does not want Lord Henry to “ruin” Dorian’s simple and beautiful nature. He wants him
to promise not to spoil him or try to influence him
. … He was someone in Greek mythology who was known for his beauty.
What promise does Basil refer to at the end of the chapter What is Lord Henry’s response?
What promise does Basil refer to at the end of the chapter? What is L. Henry’s response?
He trusts him not to influence Dorian any more, “I wish I could trust myself.”
Why does Dorian want to spend time with Lord Henry instead of with Basil?
He is overwhelmed by the idea that the soul is happy because he senses are pleased. In the garden, what does Lord Henry warn Dorian about his youth and beauty? … He is fascinated with
everything
that Lord Henry says and god to spend time with him instead of Basil.
Is Dorian Gray a bad guy?
He runs a gentlemen’s club for witches known as Dorian’s Gray Room, although he views it as a gentlemen’s only club, he will generally serve anybody and is very welcoming and helpful to many characters who need him. This version of
Dorian is not a villain and instead a heroic and wise man
.
What sins did Dorian Gray commit?
Throughout the story, Dorian commits
many sins
, for example, using his influence to ruin others’ lives and the murdering of Basil Hallward. However, Dorian’s appearance is still young and beautiful because the portrait suffers from all the sins he commits but not him.
How did Dorian Gray lose his innocence?
Basil believes that Dorian’s outer beauty reflects his inner goodness.
Hedonism’
. This, together with Basil’s portrait – which encourages Dorian’s narcissism and prompts him to wish he could remain forever young and attractive – initiates Dorian’s loss of innocence.
Does Lord Henry Love Dorian Gray?
The relationship between Dorian and Lord Henry Wotton is the bedrock of the story. … Lord Henry Wotton
is fascinated by Dorian at their first meeting at Basil Hallward’s studio
. He is very aware of Dorian’s innocence: “All the candour of youth was there, as well as youths’ passionate purity” (Wilde, Chapter 2).
Did Dorian Gray sell his soul?
The legend tells of a learned doctor who sells his soul to the devil in return for knowledge and magical abilities. Although Dorian Gray never contracts with the devil, his sacrifice is similar:
he trades his soul for the luxury of eternal youth
.
Does Dorian Gray kiss Basil?
The most explicit scene in the novel is Basil’s confessional monologue in a private salon, where he professes his devotion to Dorian. … Instead of subtly leading Basil to his confession,
Dorian steers the conversation away by kissing Basil
, who eventually gives in to his passion and succumbs to a sexual encounter.
What does Dorian Gray fear?
Dorian’s fear points to an important theme in the book:
A life devoted solely to the pursuit of selfish pleasure will always be marred
by self-con-scious fear. Dorian has what he wants — eternal youth and a life filled with pleasure — but he can’t fully enjoy his life for fear that his secret will be discovered.
Why doesn’t Lord Henry believe Dorian when he confesses to killing Basil?
When Dorian all but confesses to Basil’s murder, Lord Henry flippantly dismisses him, since his worldview holds that “[c]rime belongs exclusively to the lower orders.” Only Lord Henry, who has
never
actually done any of the things he has inspired Dorian to do, could have the luxury of this thought.
Is Lord Henry the devil?
However, Lord Henry is never presented in a negative manner. … He is clever, charming, and eloquent. One can argue that
he represents the devil
, drawing a parallel to Faust by his beguiling manner.
What exercise does Lord Henry find terribly enthralling?
What exercise does Lord Henry find “terribly enthralling”? Lord Henry is enthralled with
the exercise of influence
.
What does Lord Henry value most in the world?
Yet, the most powerful of all of Lord Henry’s attractions is
his obsession with youth
. Being that Lord Henry is actually representing Oscar Wilde’s own mind, he admires and analyzes youth not as a basic stage of life, but as a mystery of beauty and innocence.
