The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 19

A few months later, Dorian visits Lord Henry and announces his intent to change his ways. He wishes to repent and be a decent, virtuous man. In order to prove his new resolve, he even claims that he recently had an opportunity to claim the virginity of a young girl, but chose not to. 

Lord Henry scoffs at Dorian’s goal, dismissing it in favor of other topics. He mentions Alan Campbell, who has recently committed suicide. He also mentions that the mystery of Basil’s disappearance remains unsolved. 

Dorian even suggests the possibility that Basil may have been murdered, but Lord Henry finds this unlikely, since, according to Lord Henry, Basil had no enemies. Dorian pushes the issue, asking a question that appears to be hypothetical in nature. He asks Lord Henry’s thoughts if Dorian said that he had murdered basil. Lord Henry’s response is dismissive, as he notes that crime is too vulgar for Dorian. 

Later in the conversation, Lord Henry quotes the Holy Bible, asking Dorian, “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose… his own soul?” Lord Henry had heard this from a street preacher, and Lord Henry mocks the preacher. Dorian, however, tells Lord Henry that the soul is real. 

Lord Henry derides Dorian’s claim. He does wonder, though, how Dorian has remained so young and muses that he wishes that he knew Dorian’s secret. He even advises Dorian not to change anything he is doing, stating his belief that if Dorian were to suddenly become a virtuous man, it would be upended. 

Dorian then asks Lord Henry to never share the yellow book with anybody else. Again, Lord Henry scoffs at Dorian’s thoughts, telling Dorian that art does not influence people… the book has caused no harm. He even claims that those who think that a book is immoral are only seeing the book reveal the immorality that is already there. 

Upon leaving, Lord Henry extends an invitation to Dorian to visit him the following day. They agree to meet in the morning. 

Analysis

Dorian has become depraved and corrupted throughout the story, but he now shows glimmers of hope, as he weakly seeks redemption. Lord Henry, as expected, stands in the way of such a thing, even refusing to hear Dorian’s confession about the murder of Basil. Lord Henry continues to encourage Basil to maintain his life of depravity, arguing that it has served Dorian well thus far. 

But even Dorian’s half-hearted attempt to change his ways lacks the correct motivation. Dorian is a lost soul, and his claim of wishing to become a decent person is only motivated by the selfish desire to be absolved of his sins. It is not motivated by integrity or decency, but by a further attempt by Dorian, to care for Dorian alone.