Dorian Gray Chpts 12 and 13

“Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable felling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips” (162).

Dorian Gray has killed Basil. I’m pretty sure that I speak for everyone when saying that this act is much unexpected. As for Dorian, this is one act that he does not regret. Dorian’s lack of remorse is shown when referring to Basil’s dead body as a “thing” (163), and also with how calmly he felt. After reading this section, the only thing I can think about is how the portrait will look now. We also see towards the end of the chapter that Dorian is trying to map out how everything will play out: “with his curious, reserved habits, it would be months before any suspicions would be aroused. Months! Everything could be destroyed long before then” (164). Dorian Gray sounds a lot like Bigger Thomas from the Native Son in the quote previously mentioned. “He was not concerned with whether these acts were right or wrong; they simply appealed to him as possible venues of escape” (Wright 115). Dorian Gray killed Basil so that he can escape from the human reminder of his sins.


“I worshiped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshiped yourself too much. We are both punished” (162).

For the first time, we see Basil regretting the admiration he once had for Dorian Gray. Finally Basil has recognized the emotional abuse that he received from Dorian. While reading this, I felt liberated for Basil. It seemed as if Basil was holding himself back because he was too concerned with Dorian.
When saying that Basil has been punished for worshipping Dorian, he is referring back to the main reason why he decided to paint Dorian in the first place. Dorian obtained a beautiful glow that made it impossible to fall in love with him. Basil painted a portrait of Dorian never knowing that this painting would turn out to be a horrendous portrayal of Dorian’s soul. Previously in the novel, it was said that, “art […] were meant to be a form of autobiography” (13). Dorian’s disintegrating portrait may have foreshadowed Basil’s tragic death.

Petulant
–adjective
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance:


“cried Dorian, in his petulant way, flinging himself down on the sofa” (153).

Satyr
–noun
1. Classical Mythology. one of a class of woodland deities, attendant on Bacchus, represented as part human, part horse, and sometimes part goat and noted for riotousness and lasciviousness.
2. a lascivious man; lecher.

“This is the face of a satyr” (161).