PODG #4

     In chapter seven of The Picture of Dorian Gray, the portrait of Dorian, painted by Basil, goes through a subtle, yet shocking transformation. After Dorian’s argument with Sibyl, Dorian goes home to find the painting has been altered and now displays a cruel smile. Lord Henry comes to Dorian’s house and the two men discuss what Dorian should do about Sibyl. Dorian tells Lord Henry, “I want to be good. I can’t bear the idea of my soul being hideous” (71). Dorian’s narcissistic personality worsens throughout chapter seven. The only reason why Dorian feels remorse for the argument with Sibyl is because Dorian can physically see what the argument has done to his soul through the painting. Dorian even describes Sibyl as selfish because Sibyl’s love for Dorian has caused her acting to worsen. Dorian detests anything that is not beautiful, so once Sibyl’s acting is not beautiful Dorian finds that he does not love Sibyl anymore. It is only once Dorian sees how his treatment towards Sibyl has caused himself to become ‘hideous’ that Dorian feels remorse.