Dorian Gray Blog 2

The character of Lord Henry is that of a middle aged man who has gleaned wisdom through his life and is looking for someone to bestow it upon. He disregards the opinions of others, especially when it comes to their reactions about his brash stances on life. This intriguing knack of speaking the truth makes him very enticing to those who meet him, "for days after [Dorian] met [Lord Henry], something seemed to throb in [Dorian's] veins" (52). This strong sentiment of connection displays how much others are drawn to Lord Henry. This is a result of the carefree yet wise attitude that seeps from him always, "All I want to do now is look at life. You may come and look at it with me, if you care to" (47), his manner strikes a note of curiosity within those around him and pulls them into his influential presence. Characters that meet Lord Henry naturally are shaped by his influence and Dorian is no exception. Lord Henry even admits that he "always like(s) to know everything about [his] new friends, and nothing about [his] old ones" (38), this opens up the fact that he takes a great deal of interest in Dorian. He sees Dorian as his newest protege of sorts, he wants to open him up to the world. But most of all, Lord Henry wishes "to project [his] soul into some gracious form... [and] hear [his] intellectual views echoed back...there was a real joy in that...perhaps the most satisfying joy left" (38). Lord Henry will touch Dorian's life in what will be to the boy, previously unimaginable ways and make him more jaded, meanwhile he will simply be exercising his own whims and basking in his influence.