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mirimione

The Bookworm's Den

Worming my way through books since 1998 

Reading progress update: I've read 58 out of 224 pages.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

So, this chapter was all about how Lord Henry looks at Dorian like a work of art. At this point, it seems like he has total control about Dorian's view of life and social behaviour - and not for the better. Honestly, Lord Henry seems a bit like a pychopath to me, the way he only says things for their effect and the way he doesn't care about other people's feelings. It's horrid! And he seems really pleased that Dorian is turning into a mini Lord Henry, too.

 

The point of this is probably that this process of "creating" Dorian's new personality is supposed to mirror creating a piece of art - and I really think that's quite clever! But I still don't like Lord Henry's character :P! I mean, just listen to this guy:

Yes, the lad was premature. He was gathering his harvest while it was yet spring. The pulse and passion of youth were in him, but he was becoming self-conscious. It was delightful to watch him. With his beautiful face, and his beautiful soul, he was a thing to wonder at. It was no matter how it all ended, or was destined to end. He was like one of thos gracious figures in a pageant or a play, whose joys seem to be remote from one, but whose sorrows stir one's sense of beauty and whose wounds are like red roses.

 

- The Picture of Dorian Grey, ch. 4

"It was no matter how it all ended?" Seriously? My madman senses are tingling ...