Dorian Gray: Chapter 1 and 2

"I have put into it some expression of all this curious artistic idolatry, of which, of course, I have never cared to speak to him. He knows nothing about it. He shall never know anything about it. But the world might guess it; and I will not bare my soul to their shallow, prying eyes. My heart shall never be put under a microscope. There is too much of myself in the thing, Harry-- too much of myself!" (13).

• In this quote, Basil expresses his reasoning to why he cannot exhibit his work of art. He explains that the painting of Dorian Gray reveals a part of himself that no one knows. Basil has revealed “the secret of [his] own soul” (7) and is not willing for others to be critics of it. He does not overtly express what his secret is but the reader can assume that it is his feelings toward Dorian Gray. Basil is also convinced that people will delve into the meaning behind the painting as if it “were meant to be a form of autobiography” (13).

“Beauty is a form of Genius--is higher, indeed, than Genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts of the world, like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark waters of that silver shell we call the moon. It cannot be questioned. It has its divine right of sovereignty. It makes princes of those who have it” (24).

• Basil is aware of Lord Henry’s influence on others and warns him not to influence Dorian Gray. However, Lord Henry succeeds in influencing him. Lord Henry explains to Gray that beauty is greater than genius only because beauty is understood universally, while genius demands an explanation. In the eyes of Lord Henry, beauty is youth. Lord Henry convinces Gray that he must cherish his youth while he can because it is extremely important. Without youth comes a life filled with sorrow because beauty is no longer present. Once Gray loses his youth, he loses everything. Lord Henry emphasizes the importance of youth because with youth come the pleasures of life: “Youth! Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth!” (25).

Definitions:

“I remember her bringing me up to a truculent and red-faced old gentlemen”(9).

Truculent: (adj) fierce; cruel; savagely brutal

“There was something in his low, languid voice that was absolutely fascinating” (23).

Languid: (adj) lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow