The Picture of Dorian Gray: Reading Journal - Chapter 1

Lee Changhun 121097

The Picture of Dorian Gray – Reading Journal

            Although chapter one doesn’t include vigorous actions that stir up excitement, it aptly invites the readers into the perspectives of Lord Henry and Basil Hallward. The two engage in a discourse on why Basil would not exhibit his fine painting, which Lord Henry finds surprising, as he believes that men do anything in a world to gain reputation. He also extols the painting, by saying “A portrait like this would set you far above all the men in England, and make the old men quite jealous, if old men are ever capable of any emotion.” Such a comment has various implications, including the fact that Lord Henry’s perspective puts artistic value over anything else.

            The reason that Basil refuses to exhibit his painting is certainly intriguing; he finds too much of himself in the painting. He argues that ‘every painting with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter’. Although I myself am not a painter, I totally agree; in fact, this statement holds for all creations that humans make. There are infinite ways a single man can be painted, a character be described by letters, or an invention be molded. The creator’s personality and experience together decide which specific way is chosen. But Basil goes further than this common understanding, as he describes his feeling as a curious instinct of terror, fearing that Dorian Gray’s personality would absorb his whole nature and soul. That a man can feel all this by simply looking at another man(yes, a man) is unrealistic, which plays an important role in making the novel absorbing and sensational.

            Another thing to note is that while the novel makes the readers increasingly curious about Dorian Gray, the least of details are provided. His looks or personality are not depicted except for some abstract characterization as fascinating or ‘simple and beautiful nature’; readers are left imagining. I found this characteristic both damaging and beneficial. It may be damaging, because the readers don’t get a limpid understanding of why the characters are acting in a certain way; but it can also be beneficial as it is probably best that certain characters are left unexplained.

            While the plot of the novel itself is intriguing, the dialogue between Lord Henry and Basil also include several ideas worth thinking about. In chapter one, Lord Henry says, ‘conscience and cowardice are really the same things. Conscience is the trade-name of the firm. That is all.’ He seems to be talking about the true nature of human’s conscience. Afterwards, as he persuades Basil that Basil will grow indifferent to Dorian Gray eventually, he says ‘The worst of having a romance is that it leaves one so unromantic.’ I personally approve of this paradox. A person is most romantic when the subject of his or her love remains abstract and untouched. But when the person familiarizes with the subject of his love, he or she, in many cases, is more inclined to grow indifferent as the dreams and fantasies about the subject dissipate.

              So far, the novel is developing its plot. Although somewhat abstract, the characters are engaging, and I look forward to what the rest of the novel will unfold.