PODG #3 Analysis

The connection Oscar Wilde exposes between Dorian Gray and Sibyl Vane is clearly demonstrated through two contradicting foils: Henry and Sibyl. They both offer separate views of how love and goodness can be achieved. As Sibyl is discussing the matter of true love with her brother, James, she suggests that “To be in love is to surpass one’s self” (Wilde 71), whereas Henry remarks later to Dorian that “To be good is to be in harmony with one’s self” (82). Both Sibyl and Henry are discussing the importance of love and how happiness can be achieved from love, yet the two characters offer contradictory views that ultimately reflect upon Dorian’s engagement with Sibyl. Sibyl defends her love for Dorian by explaining that love can only be experienced if the individual surpasses their individualistic laws in society. Dorian’s lover is classified as a poorer citizen based on the fact that her income is solely from her nightly acting performances. Basically, Sibyl explains that love is achievable from the point one can break the barrier between one’s minds with one’s individual senses. Henry, however, suggests to Dorian that goodness is only achieved if one is at peace with their self. Even though Henry is offering advice regarding love, his opinion differs from that of Sibyl’s, thus creating a complexity of influential advice towards Dorian’s love life. Dorian views himself as a blank slate from which experience guides it, and in this case, Dorian has been enlightened to guide is conscious after viewing Basil’s masterpiece of Dorian Gray. Therefore, Henry tries to guide Dorian’s conscious like that of a pilot guiding a plane, and attempts to influence Dorian into making decisions Henry’s conscious would approve and not of Dorian’s.