At this scene in the novel, Henry has led Dorian out to the gardens surrounding Basil’s studio. While Basil perfects Dorian’s portrait inside, Henry describes the horrors of aging and the importance of savoring one’s youth. Throughout the conversation, Henry’s use of imagery and ethical appeals transform Dorian immediately from the humble and pure gentleman Basil adored to a fop whose balance of genius and reason is outweighed by his obsession for aesthetics. Henry contrasts symbols of beauty, like the “purple stars on the Clematis” laying on the “green night of its leaves” that return year after year, to symbols of horror, like “hideous puppets,” rotting senses, and degeneration; through such juxtaposition, Henry intensifies the horror of ugliness and establishes a vivid image of disgust.
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Vocabulary with heavy connotations, like “hideous,” “rot,” and “haunt,” suggest rather terrifying images of growing old and subsequently appeal to the audience’s emotions, establishing a dread for old age and a motive to savor youth and beauty while the time lasts. Additionally, Henry incorporates a factor of pride and a sense of duty toward the audience, claiming, “With your personality, there is nothing you can’t do,” and “The world belongs to you for a season.” By appealing to the audience’s ethics, Henry encourages Dorian to recognize his exceptional beauty instead of concerning himself with genius or thought. By switching priorities, Dorian changes from the admirable man Basil worshipped to what Dorian believes to be a divine being of eternal beauty. The final sentence of the passage reveals that Dorian has been transformed; Henry’s exclamations of
Vocabulary with heavy connotations, like “hideous,” “rot,” and “haunt,” suggest rather terrifying images of growing old and subsequently appeal to the audience’s emotions, establishing a dread for old age and a motive to savor youth and beauty while the time lasts. Additionally, Henry incorporates a factor of pride and a sense of duty toward the audience, claiming, “With your personality, there is nothing you can’t do,” and “The world belongs to you for a season.” By appealing to the audience’s ethics, Henry encourages Dorian to recognize his exceptional beauty instead of concerning himself with genius or thought. By switching priorities, Dorian changes from the admirable man Basil worshipped to what Dorian believes to be a divine being of eternal beauty. The final sentence of the passage reveals that Dorian has been transformed; Henry’s exclamations of