Dorian Gray Chapter 9 Flashcards
C9 - After Basil’s confession, Dorian ‘wondered if he himself would ever be so dominated by the personality of a friend. Lord Henry had a charm of being very dangerous. But that was all. He was too clever and too cynical to be really fond of. Would the ever be some one who would fill him with a strange idolatry?”
What do you think of Dorian’s statement about Lord Henry and being influenced?
I think that Dorian’s is not completely influenced by Lord Henry as he knows that Lord Henry had ‘a charm of being very dangerous’.
C9 - How could you argue that this chapter consolidates the theme of influence? Consider Dorian, Lord Henry and Basil.
Basil’s confession to Dorian about being ‘intolerable fascination’ ‘I was dominated soul, brain and power by you’
Lord Henry his morals/ideals are influences over others.
Dorian influenced by Basil to become ‘vain’
C9 - Can you find any examples of visible traces of Lord Henry’s character in this chapter?
“If one doesn’t talk about a thing, it has never happened it is simply an expression.”
“to become the spectator of one’s own life.”
“a man who is the master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure.”
C9 - How is Dorian’s influence over Basil made explicit? find quotations to support
Dorian’s influence becomes explicit in this chapter as it clearly shows that Dorian’s dominating personality had overwhelmed Basil and completely took over him.
“You became to me the visible incarnation of than unseen ideal whose memory haunts us artists like an exquisite dream.”
C9 - How does Dorian’s influence over Basil differ from Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian?
Dorian’s influence over Basil was his persona/physique, Basil almost lets it go via confession and letting go of the portrait. Unintentional. Lord Henry influence was intentional and deliberate.
C9 - Wilde chooses Basil to be the voice of the notion that art is in no way representative of the character of the artist who created it. How does it link to context.
Wilde - aestheticist (revered art) ‘art simply art’
Preface contradicts rest of the novel deeper meaning of the reflection of the artist
C9 - Wilde chooses Basil to be the voice of the notion that art is in no way representative of the character of the artist who created it. How does it link to the nature of Basil’s character in comparison to Dorian and Lord Henry;
the only truly kind character, Basil is the Angel and Lord Henry is the devil. Dorian is a figure that is influenced by characters older than him, but out of the two mainly by Lord Henry.
C9 - Wilde chooses Basil to be the voice of the notion that art is in no way representative of the character of the artist who created it. How does it link to how you expect Basil to have received by a Victorian reading audience in comparison to Dorian and Basil’s role within the scheme of presented within the novel.
poorly due to homosexual undertones, or popular as a painter. Valued. (Basil) sympathy character. Dorian received as a typical gentleman.
C9 - Wilde chooses Basil to be the voice of the notion that art is in no way representative of the character of the artist who created it. How does it link to Basil’s role within the scheme of morality present within the novel.
Basil underlying reason why Dorian is corrupt, or is Dorian inherently corrupt?
C9 - Dorian says: ‘as a rule, people who act lead the most commonplace lives. They are good husbands, or faithful wives, or something tedious’. What do you think this reveals about morality? (link to chapter 3)
Dorian doesn’t lead a commonplace life, Sybil has just died and he doesn’t have any morals.
C9 - Chapter nine is very similar in format to Chapter eight in terms of the fact that Dorian is visited by one of his friends about Sybil Vane’s death. Make a list of three parallels and differences between the two chapters.
- Both console Dorian, tell him it’s not his fault and try to influence him.
- Influence him in different ways
- Basil gives in to Dorian’s pressure. Lord Henry treats Dorian as a kid
C9 - What is Basil’s intention when he says ‘I passed a dreadful evening, half afraid one tragedy might be followed by another.’ what is Dorian’s reaction?
Wants to be sympathetic
doesn’t seem bothered
C9 - What is Basil’s intention when he says ‘I think you might have telegraphed for me when you heard’ what is Dorian’s reaction?
Trying to make Dorian feel guilty
doesn’t seem bothered
C9 - What is Basil’s intention when he says ‘Did you go down and see the girl’s mother?’ what is Dorian’s reaction?
severity of situation
detached from emotion
C9 - What is Basil’s intention when he says ‘There are horrors in store for that little white body of hers!’ what is Dorian’s reaction?
Want’s Dorian to know the pain and struggle of Sybil’s family
Angry and naive
