Q: “He shuddered, and for a moment he regretted that he had not told Basil the true reason why he had wished to hide the picture away. Basil would have helped him to resist Lord Henry’s influence and the still more poisonous influences that came from his own temperament. That love that he bore him- for it was really love – had nothing in it that was not noble and intellectual.”

C: In all honesty when I first read this quote. When I first heard about the picture of Dorian Grey it was from one of my friends who loved classic lit. She told me that Dorian was a self-obsessed *word I cant use on a school website*. I don’t think he is self-obsessed she said. I think he is torn. Lord Henery is a charming devil to be literal. He is leading Dorian down a dark path, He is a noble and uses his knowledge to his advantage. Basil isn’t a noble and he isn’t as cunning as Lord Henery, but Basil has a true love for Dorian (Platonic, Romantic, or other depending on interpretation). Dorian holds the portrait Basil made for him very closely and doesn’t want Basil to see how ruined it has become. Dorian continues to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh chasing highs, but I feel at this point in the story he is re-dimmable. I thought the ONLY reason Dorain kept the panting around was that he was afraid of death, I think that may be true, but he truly loved it. It was a gift from the only person who truly cares about him.

Q: If you found a representation of your soul, such as this painting for Dorian, would you keep it on display?