Dorian Gray Chpts 15 and 16

“She is very clever, too clever for a woman. She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness” (185).

Lord Henry has been very degrading and inconsiderate thus far in the novel. Not once has he ever taken into consideration the feelings and emotions of others when speaking. Harry has continuously referred to women negatively: “no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind” (51). Depicting females in a negative manner leads us to wonder what in Harry’s previous years or childhood led him to have such a negative perception of the sex.

“Something has happened to you, Dorian. Tell me what it is. You are not yourself to-night” (186).

The change that has occurred within Dorian has been recognized by everyone. Basil was the first one to become aware of Dorian’s transformation. As the years went on everyone else caught on as well. Women who were once enchanted by Dorian’s presence tend to flee when Dorian walks into the room. The fact that Lord Henry is realizing a change in Dorian is quite dumbfounding. One would imagine that Lord Henry would not be surprised at all with the transformation of Dorian. Does this mean that Dorian will ultimately end up being worse of a human being than Lord Henry?

Audacious
–adjective
1. extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless

“Oh! She is audacious enough for anything, my dear” (182).

Incorrigible
–adjective
1. not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform

“Isn’t he incorrigible? Cried Dorian, leaning forward in his chair” (183).