The Picture of Dorian Gray : Chapter 8

I. Quotations
1. "I felt all that you have said, but somehow I was afraid of it, and I could not express it to myself [...] It has been a marvelous experience. That is all. I wonder if life has still in store for me anything as marvelous." (page 108)

• Lord Henry had said before that "the terror of society, which is the basis of morals" (20). We can rephrase and individualize this statement to "without fear, the morality of society would collapses". Dorian's mind was freed by Harry's pretext of living an immoral life. His ruthless and malicious side was discovered and developed immediately when he does not fear anymore. Dorian accepted the belief that doing evil is a marvelous experience to have; thus he will keep sinning in search of more excitements and pleasures, regardless what other may feel.
  

2. "Eternal youth, infinite passion, pleasures subtle and secret, wild joys and wilder sins - he was to have all these things. The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame; that was all." (page 109)

• Dorian's view of life was drastically changed. Before listening to Lord Henry's eloquent persuasion, Dorian thought that "the portrait that Basil Hallward had painted of him would be a guide to him through life, would be to him what holiness is to some, and conscience to others, and the fear of God to us all" (99-100). However, convinced by Lord Henry's carpe-diem sentiment, Dorian now wants to seize the day and make pleasure while he can. In order to do that, he "must keep your [his] good looks" (108). His charm is a ticket to "infinite passion"(109), "pleasures subtle and secret" and "wild joys and wilder sins" . As Lord Henry had said before, sins are "the privilege of the rich" (83). Dorian get numerous pleasure when he gets rid of the punishments of his sins by letting his portrait "bear the burden of his shame" (109). But the price he has to pay is the desecration of soul and the losing of heart.
  

II. Vocabulary
1. labyrinth - [n.]
1> complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
2> a complex system of interconnecting cavities concerned with hearing and equilibrium
Ex. "To find his way through the sanguine labyrinth of passion through which he was wandering." (100)

2. desecrate - [v.]
1> violate the sacred character of a place or language
2> remove the consecration from a person or an object
Ex. "A feeling of pain crept over him as he thought of the desecration that was in store for the fair face on the canvas." (109)