Friday November 14th

[on not meeting Dorian Gray]
"I'm very glad you didn't, Harry."
"Why?"
"I don't want you to meet him?"
"You don't want me to meet him?"
"No."

This excerpt is important to the story of Dorian Gray because it greatly dramatizes the man before he is even physically introduced into the story. This exchange shows the most powerful sides of the men- Basil's fatherly yet loving concern and Henry's drive and desire to gain what he has yet to. It also paints a angelic and almost God-like halo around Dorian- who is apparently worthy of keeping 'safe' from outside influences.

Wilde uses many literary and rhetorical devices in this passage. Using the juxtaposition between Lord Henry and Basil, he creates a two foil characters that serve as conflicting influences. Lord Henry for the worse, Basil for the better. The repetition of "meeting him" creates a worried tone in Basil and foreshadows Henry's corruption of Dorian's innocence. It also serves as irony of the situation when Dorian is announced in the next line.