How Did Lord Henry Influence Dorian Gray
In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, many people’s influences change Dorian Gray. Basil Hallward, an artist, makes the point that influence will take away part of a person’s character and personality. Sometimes influence can be good, such as when Dorian falls in love with Sibyl Vane and he learns how to love and be kind to another person. However, sometimes it can be bad, such as when Lord Henry starts influencing Dorian. Dorian is negatively impacted, since Lord Henry’s influence leads him to his misdeeds. Oscar Wilde says that influence will take away a person’s personality, and that it can be good, but sometimes a person will seem like they will have a good influence, but the results are detrimental due to an unbalanced relationship.
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When Basil checks in with Dorian after hearing of Sibyl’s death, Basil tells Dorian “You talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you. It is all Harry’s influence, I see that” (109). Basil knows that Lord Henry and Dorian have become close friends recently. Knowing both Lord Henry and Dorian well, Basil knows how strong the impact is that Henry has on Dorian, and how badly the result could be. He can also see how the relationship between Henry and Dorian is unbalanced. He can also see how Henry is easily able to influence Dorian since Dorian is a wealthy young bachelor and Henry is a middle-aged married man who has already experienced a lot. Basil sees how Dorian has gone from a good young man to a person who doesn’t care what consequences his actions have. When Dorian and Basil talk about what Dorian did to Lord Henry’s sister, Basil says to Dorian, “You have a wonderful influence. Let it be for good, not for evil” (151). Basil admits to Dorian that he believes that Dorian could have a positive influence on a person, but that the way he’s acting will negatively affect all of the people around him. Lord Henry’s influence has made Dorian a worse person, since Lord Henry’s arrogance and superiority made Dorian believe that he too could be arrogant and people would still respect him due to his position in society and
When Basil checks in with Dorian after hearing of Sibyl’s death, Basil tells Dorian “You talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you. It is all Harry’s influence, I see that” (109). Basil knows that Lord Henry and Dorian have become close friends recently. Knowing both Lord Henry and Dorian well, Basil knows how strong the impact is that Henry has on Dorian, and how badly the result could be. He can also see how the relationship between Henry and Dorian is unbalanced. He can also see how Henry is easily able to influence Dorian since Dorian is a wealthy young bachelor and Henry is a middle-aged married man who has already experienced a lot. Basil sees how Dorian has gone from a good young man to a person who doesn’t care what consequences his actions have. When Dorian and Basil talk about what Dorian did to Lord Henry’s sister, Basil says to Dorian, “You have a wonderful influence. Let it be for good, not for evil” (151). Basil admits to Dorian that he believes that Dorian could have a positive influence on a person, but that the way he’s acting will negatively affect all of the people around him. Lord Henry’s influence has made Dorian a worse person, since Lord Henry’s arrogance and superiority made Dorian believe that he too could be arrogant and people would still respect him due to his position in society and