The Picture of Dorian Gray #3: Chapters 5-6

Lord Henry has become quite an interesting character in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. His personality has not really changed since the beginning of the novel, but his purpose has become more and clearer due to his manipulative ways. In the sixth chapter of Wilde’s only book, Lord Henry exerts his precedence over both Dorian and Basil by providing his opinion on Dorian’s engagement in another one of his pedantic theories: “‘I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now…we are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices. I never take any notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do’”. This statement displays Lord Henry as a hypocrite. Throughout the entire book, all Lord Henry has done is approve or disapprove. He constantly “airs his moral prejudices” and always takes notice of what common people say and what charming people do. His statement is merely the antithesis of himself. Wilde sets up a stark contrast between what Lord Henry claims to be the truth and what is actually reality to show the absurdity of his character. Basil is continuously worried about Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian, and the hypocrisy of Lord Henry’s character only makes matters worse. Hopefully Wilde will make Lord Henry’s manipulation attempts more visible to Dorian as he slowly depreciates his youth, innocence, and beauty at the hands of Lord Henry’s outwardly noticeable influence.