Monday December 8th

Dorian to Lord Henry-
"Her trust makes me faithful, her belief makes me good. When I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become different from what you have known me to be. I am changed, and the mere touch of Sibyl Vane's hand makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories."

This passage is quintessential in the development of Dorian's character throughout the novel. It is here that he finally declares his intellectual independence and establishes himself capable of making his own decisions. It also shows Dorian as struggling in his search for the perfect life. With his release from the grip of Lord Henry, Dorian has already attached himself to someone else in order to get through life which foreshadows his struggle to attain his own identity. It is apparent however, that Dorian's 'great love' is an infatuation, as made clear by the extreme exaggeration of his emotions which leads to a question of his future. In a previous chapter James Vane states that he will murder Dorian if he hurts his sister, and dramatic irony is created as it becomes clear to the reader that Dorian's feelings will soon fade.

However, Wilde uses paradoxical statements in order to create a sense of confusion. The description of Lord Henry's theories both enforces Dorian's independence and emphasizes the fact that Dorian has already incorporated them into his mindset. No matter what, it seems that Dorian can never be rid of Lord Henry's words, which hold a curious power over him. His exaggeration in describing his love for Sybil is also used by Wilde to convey Dorian as emotionally weak.