Dorian Gray Said/Done Blog

Wilde uses the dialogue on page 81 to convey two of his main themes to the audience, Dorian's naive nature as well as the differences in character of Dorian's two biggest influences: Hallward and Henry. Dorian's hyperbolic diction show that his youth governs his views on the world, often leaving him with a less than realistic picture. To Dorian, "the world is nothing to be compared with (Sibyl)"(81), he finds her to be the greatest thing possible. Wilde uses figurative language to show that Dorian is so enthralled with her that he thinks of her in an almost dreamlike way saying that he "left her in the forest of Arden ...and shall find her in an orchard in Verona" (81). The fact that his love is so great and so dramatic shows his youthful hope and in doing so also shows his oblivion to the way the world truly works. This naive quality sets him up to be the subject of the far more sage characters in the book. Through his descriptions of mannerisms, Wilde depicts the differences between the Hallward and Henry as they act as one an other's foil characters. Hallward would like to allow Dorian to grow and learn freely and without impediments from anyone and so when Henry begins to indoctrinate Dorian again, he lays "his hand upon his arm"(81) to let him know he needs to let Dorian make his own decisions and develop in his own way. Hallward sees that Dorian "is not like other men. He would never bring misery upon anyone" (81), he fosters his naive ways and looks to allow Dorian to grow at his own pace but for now bask in his naive youth. Henry on the other hand sees Dorian as a fresh canvas on which he may paint his own ideas of society until he has created a masterpiece. He often does not know when to stop pushing Dorian's limits and often needs Hallward to remind him that he has "annoyed Dorian"(81). These two characters are opposite in both their motives and styles. Wilde uses this passage to show their differences while also highlighting the subject which they both want to have influence over.