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Chapter 19

Characters:
Dorian
Lord Henry

Summary

Several weeks have passed and Dorian is visiting with Lord Henry. Dorian is professing his new attitude, he wishes to change his way of living to live more virtuous. Lord Henry mocks him, he doesn’t believe Dorian because he already feels Dorian is perfect and tells him he can never change. Dorian doesn’t agree, he has done too many bad things in his life and decided the day before to start doing better. Lord Henry asks where he had gone. Dorian says he had gone to the country and stayed at a little inn. Lord Henry continues to mock Dorian stating that anyone could be good in the country because country people have no real opportunity to be corrupted. Dorian says he spared an innocent girl. He felt he had possibly fallen in love with her and was to run away with her that morning but instead left her to her innocence. Lord Henry continues to make fun of Dorian and wonders how Dorian can still be as innocent as a boy. Dorian tires of Lord Henry making fun of him and tells him he is determined to be better and will be better.

Favorite Quotes:
“All crime is vulgar, just as all vulgarity is crime.” ~Lord Henry

“The soul is a terrible reality. It can be bought, and sold, and bartered away. It can be poisoned, or made perfect. There is a soul in each one of us.” ~Dorian

“If a man treats life artistically, his brain is his heart.” ~Lord Henry

“Life is a question of nerves, and fibres, and slowly built-up cells in which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams.” ~Lord Henry

“Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.” ~Lord Henry

Questions:

1. What do you think of Dorian’s declaration to start being good? Do you believe he can really change?

2. Do you think Dorian should be the one to blame for Alan Campbell’s suicide?

Join us for the complete summary and discussion here.