The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 19-20

In chapter nineteen it seems as if Dorian is seeking some for of redemption. Dorian tells Lord Henry that he believes that he has done too many horribly things in his life and wants to make a change for the better. Lord Henry argues that Dorian is perfect as he is and does not need to change at all. Dorian insists that this is not the case and that tells Lord Henry of his first good deed. Dorian had been in the country and had fallen in love with a girl there. However, instead of pursuing her Dorian decided to "leave her as flowerlike as [he] had found her." page 230. Henry completely dismisses this action and says that by leaving her Dorian has also caused her harm by saying that now she will never be happy with anyone of her own class and that when she does get married she will grow to resent her husband. He even makes a reference to Hamlet by stating "....how do you know that Hetty isn't floating at the present moment in some starlit mill pond, with lovely water lilies round her, like Ophelia?"

Fed up with Lord Henry dismissing everything he says Dorian tries to change the subject but Lord Henry ends up talking about Basil's disappearance. Not only that but he revels that Alan Campbell has committed suicide and that he is getting a divorce from his wife. Dorian surprising  himself with the ease of which he is able to talk about Basil. Dorian even goes as far to ask Lord Henry what he would think if he told him that it was him that killed Basil. Once again Basil completely dismisses this notion stating "Crime belongs exclusively to the lower orders." page 233. So the topic of conversation is changed once more and eventually Dorian grows tired of going back and forth with Lord Henry and announces that he is tired and takes his leave.

In chapter twenty Dorian reflects upon his good deed and why it is that he fell in love with Hetty in the first place. His conclusion can be seen in this quote, "She knew noting, but she had everything that he had lost."page 240. Basically she had everything that he wished he still possessed. The more he thinks about his good deed, the more Dorian begins to question whether or not it truly a good deed to begin with. He finally realizes that he still acted selfishly and that it was no good deed at all to leave Hetty. It can be seen in this chapter the Dorian has grown tired. This sense of defeat is probably what causes him to act irrationally and stab the portrait of himself thus ending his own life. All he truly wanted was a chance at a new life, instead he only succeeded in ending it; answering for all of the sins he had committed.

The End