1. "There were sins whose fascination was more in the memory than in the doing of them, strange triumphs that gratified the pride more than the passion, and gave to the intellect a quickened sense of joy, greater than any joy they brought, or could ever bring, to the senses." (page 166)
- Getting pleasure from sins is like getting pleasure from drugs. This is why Dorian thinks that "fascination [of committing sins] was more in the memory than in the doing of them" (166). Dorian is addicted to sins, just as those potheads are addicted to drugs. Similar to a drug user, Dorian enjoys the good feelings of committing sins, but not the actual brutal actions. Under Lord Henry's influences, Dorian thinks that the ultimate and noblest way to gratify one's pride is to commit sins: "Beautiful sins, like beautiful things, are the privilege of the rich" (83). In Dorian's eyes, reality is hollow and barbaric; therefore, he chose to live in the artistic and ruleless world he created by his illusions. When "sense" becomes the only thing that matters to a man, the only thing he would care about is how to satisfy his thirst of excitement and pleasure - and to hell with morality and reputation! (sarcasm)
- To Dorian, the portrait, which was painted by Basil, was a blissful ruination of his life. The picture enlightened his awareness of his own beauty and the subsequent self-esteem. With the power of his charm, Dorian Gray was able to influence, or even dominate one's mind whenever he wanted to: "Dorian seemed to be able to exercise [his indefinable attraction] whenever he wished, and indeed exercised often without being conscious of it" (170). Thus, Basil created Dorian's artistic view of life indirectly without conscious . However, when Dorian discovered that the painting was bearing the sins he committed for him, he freed his soul from the bondage of morality. Yet, he does not know that out of the sphere of morality is the endless darkness of immorality - when he is out in the darkness, he would not be able to see how ugly his soul is. From here we can see that Basil also created a scapegoat for Dorian unconsciously. For all the good things and bad things Basil have done to Dorian, it was all because of Love. Unfortunately, Dorian does not understand that: "He may not have intended it, the result was the same" (173). God cares more about the moral process which goes behind the final moral actions. Although Basil's painting made and marred Dorian's life at the same time, the intention was good. Thus in God's eyes, Basil is still a faithful and loving friend whom Dorian should have treasured.
1. elapse - [v.] (of time) to slip or pass by
Ex. "Days would elapse before he could come back. Perhaps he might refuse to come." (169)
2. intricacy - [n.] marked by elaborately complex detail
Ex. "There he stopped, feeling afraid to turn round, and his eyes fixed themselves on the intricacies of the pattern before him." (178)
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