Quotation: I think this quote really shows the sinful kind of monstrous perspective Lord Henry may bring out in the best people. The quote is found on page 117 towards the bottom of my book copy. “No: don’t mind the cigarettes; I have some. Basil, I can’t allow you to smoke cigars. You must have a cigarette. A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want? Yes, Dorian, you will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.”
Comment/Connection: I think this quote fits rather well within the novel because it is blatantly stating that Lord Henry can lead others in having both amazing ups and horrid downs in life. Basil even mentioned before Lord Henry met Dorian that he tends to turn people into a downward spiral. Yet neither Lord Henry nor Dorian took his warning too seriously. Even though as the chapter progresses you can clearly see that due to Lord Henry’s words Dorian has “awoken in life” in which he begins trying new things and ends up finding Sybl who ends up dead because of one bad night of acting and Dorian’s reaction to it. Just thinking about this sinister kind of appeal of Lord Henry relates to movies that have a human form devil that tends to seem like a helpful person that will be able to give those in “need” just what they are looking for but in the end, it is ultimately to that person’s demise because what they needed didn’t come with only ups but horrible downs that led them to lose pretty much everything.
When I read this it makes me think of all of those people that others are drawn to but they give off a slightly sinister aura. It really makes you wonder how people can be so persuasive and those that can be persuaded so much. In terms of there being an argument, I think it would be whether Lord Henry really represents those “sins you have never had the courage to commit.” As being someone who is actively reading the book I would say he is and isn’t I think there are some things that would he have done that Dorian may also do but I think the most sinful thing he does that Dorian won’t is kind of persuade/charm others into “awakening” into a life path that they otherwise would have never had gone down.
Question: It makes you wonder; would Lord Henry really be considered the monster if he is simply speaking the truth or does he want to get a rise or almost an awakening from others to see the horrid downs they may have that lead him to be considered a mental monster?
