2nd+Article

Cool connection with Frankenstein. Strong disagreement. 10/10

Author: Sheldon W. Liebman

Title: Character Design in the Picture of Dorian Gray Journal: Studies in the Novel. Volume: 31. Issue: 3 Publication Year: 1999

Pages: 19

1) Liebman compares and contrasts the effects of Henry Wotton and Basil Hallward on Dorian. According to the author, Basil is goodness and conscientious, and Henry is cynical and indifferent. Henry, however, has a greater impact on Dorian, leading to his moral doom and mortality. Liebman claims that Henry is a far more important and complex character than basil because Henry is not a simple hedonist, but a philosopher, and-to an extent-a representation of Oscar Wilde. Henry's influence on Dorian can be understood as an experiment where Wotton decides to manipulate Dorian to live the life that he cannot because he fears of pain. Henry's sarcasm and cynicism, according to Liebman, is a barrier that protects him from reality. In addition, Henry is the only one that comes out of the events of the novel unscathed while Basil, Sybil, and others surrounding Dorian have died. Basil is portrayed as simply good. In the end, it seems that those who suffer are innocent: Sybil Vane, Basil Hallward, Alan Campbell, James Vane. It seems that Henry survives because he is deceitful.

2) It is interesting how Henry escapes Dorian. Henry does not get stabbed like Basil; he does not kill himself out of grief like Sybil; he does not get mistaken as a hare by a hunter and get shot--although this is quite indirectly Dorian's fault. I found it very interesting that Dorian would blame Basil instead of Harry--Basil did paint his portrait, but it is Harry who speaks the fatal words that leads Dorian to exchange his soul for eternal youth. This reminded me of Frankenstein: Dorian is like the Creature except his creator invented him and showed him how to live life--but one of pleasure and sin. When Dorian sets out to vent his anger and bitterness, he cannot think of blaming Harry because Dorian idolizes him and life that he represents. Poor Basil, gets in the middle of Dorian's fury and rage, and has his masterpiece and life stolen from him.

3) Liebman claims that Basil represents purity and goodness in the novel, but I disagree. Of course, to an extent, Basil is good and pure; he is one of few that reach out to Dorian and try to help him return to his former goodness. However, the author states (without supporting text) that Basil is the embodiment of the good man--religious, pious, moral. Basil is moral, however, he is not a model Christian in that he loves Dorian, not as a brother, but as a lover. Perhaps, Basil personifies a better part of Wilde, the part of himself that sought to fight his homosexuality--considered a sin during the late Victorian Period. It may be that Basil is good because he has homosexual tendencies, yet restrains himself although we, as readers, do not know if he fears sin or rejection. Perhaps it is the former as Basil says to Dorian "Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face," showing that he cares about outward and inner conscience.

What I do agree with is that Henry is not as simple as he appears. Henry is always making witty remarks about how he doesn't care; this will result in one of two ways. One: Henry is strong and fears nothing, and therefore, makes devil-may-care remarks; two: Henry is a weakling who fears everything and does nothing--instead, he plays with the people around him, making his puppets live the life he is too afraid to live himself.