The Picture of Dorian Gray

y that evening as Hallward was shown into a little private

hing about politics, I hope! They don't interest me. There is hardly a single person in the Hous

be married," said Lord Henr

ned. "Dorian engaged to be mar

perfect

wh

ttle actres

it. Dorian is f

t to do foolish things now

thing that one can d

engaged to be married. There is a great difference. I have a distinct remembrance of being married,

ition, and wealth. It would be absurd

sil. He is sure to do it, then. Whenever a man does a thoro

o see Dorian tied to some vile creature, who mi

autiful, and he is not often wrong about things of that kind. Your portrait of him has quickened his appreciation of the personal appearanc

ou ser

able if I thought I should ever be more

lking up and down the room and biting his lip. "You can'

acts Juliet, and proposes to marry her. Why not? If he wedded Messalina, he would be none the less interesting. You know I am not a champion of marriage. The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people are colourless. They lack individuality. Still, there are certain temperaments that marriage makes more complex. They retain their egotism, and add to it many other egos. They are forced to

don't. If Dorian Gray's life were spoiled, no one would be sorr

the banker that we may overdraw our account, and find good qualities in the highwayman in the hope that he may spare our pockets. I mean everything that I have said. I have the greatest contempt for optimism. As for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested. If you want to

each of his friends by the hand in turn. "I have never been so happy. Of course, it is sudden-all really delightful things are. And yet it seems

Hallward, "but I don't quite forgive you for not havi

is hand on the lad's shoulder and smiling as he spoke. "Come, let us sit down and t

me more exquisite. She had all the delicate grace of that Tanagra figurine that you have in your studio, Basil. Her hair clustered round her face like dark leaves round a pale rose. As for her acting-well, you shall see her to-night. She is simply a born artist. I sat in the dingy box absolutely enthralled. I forgot that I was in London and in the nineteenth century. I was away with my love in a forest that no man had ever seen. After the performance was over, I went behind and spoke to her. As we were sitting together, suddenly there came into her eyes a look that I had never seen there before. My lips moved towards hers. We kissed each other. I can't describe to you what I felt at that moment. It seemed to me that all my life ha

ose you were right,"

her to-day?" as

her in the forest of Arden; I shal

t particular point did you mention the word marriage, Dorian? A

ny formal proposal. I told her that I loved her, and she said she was not worthy t

re practical than we are. In situations of that kind we often fo

e annoyed Dorian. He is not like other men. He would never

for the only reason, indeed, that excuses one for asking any question-simple curiosity. I have a theory that it is always the women who

sh to shame the thing he loves. I love Sibyl Vane. I want to place her on a pedestal of gold and to see the world worship the woman who is mine. What is marriage? An irrevocable vow. You mock at it for that. Ah! don't mock. It is an irrevocable vow that I want to take. Her trust makes me

ked Lord Henry, helping

ries about love, your theories about ple

am afraid I cannot claim my theory as my own. It belongs to Nature, not to me. Pleasure is Nature's test,

u mean by good?" cr

rd Henry over the heavy clusters of purple-lipped irises that sto

that is the important thing. As for the lives of one's neighbours, if one wishes to be a prig or a Puritan, one can flaunt one's moral views about them, but they are not one's concern. Besides, individuali

e's self, Harry, one pays a terrible pri

e real tragedy of the poor is that they can afford nothing but self-deni

ay in other w

t of ways

in suffering, in ... well, in th

can use them in fiction, of course. But then the only things that one can use in fiction are the things that one has ceased

," cried Dorian Gray. "I

ruits. "Being adored is a nuisance. Women treat us just as humanity treats it

irst given to us," murmured the lad gravely. "They create

true, Dorian,"

r quite true,"

must admit, Harry, that women give t

nge. That is the worry. Women, as some witty Frenchman once put it, inspire us

ful! I don't know why

cigarettes-I have some. Basil, I can't allow you to smoke cigars. You must have a cigarette. A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and

hat the waiter had placed on the table. "Let us go down to the theatre. When Sibyl comes on the stag

at, for me at any rate, there is no such thing. Still, your wonderful girl may thrill me. I love acting. It is so much more real than life. L

ppened. After a few minutes, they all passed downstairs. He drove off by himself, as had been arranged, and watched the flashing lights of the little brougham in front of him. A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would n