The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 5-6

Chapter 5 introduces the reader to the character of Sybil. It can be seen that her mother is a skeptic of love. At the beginning of the chapter Sybil repeatedly proclaims her love for Dorian and her mother's responses reveal exactly what she thinks of love. Her mother is solely focused on Sybil's acting career and ensuring that their debt to Mr. Isaac is paid off. She states that "My child, you are far too young to think of falling in love. Besides, what do you know of this young man? You don't even know his name." page 68. Her mother makes a very valid point about not knowing Dorian's name. In her own way she is suggesting that things between Dorian and Sybil might be moving to fast.

Also in this chapter the reader meets James, Sybil's brother. James appears to represent the voice of reason. He genuinely cares about about his sister's well being and has absolutely no patience for his mother's dramatics. James sees his mother for who she truly is, which is a superficial older woman who is trying to recapture her youth by living through her daughter. James is determined that nothing bad will happen to his sister and makes their mother promise to watch over her. However, even when she makes this promise James is not satisfied because he believes that she has allowed this romance between Dorian and Sybil to go on for too long. However, toward the end of the chapter the James and his mother come to somewhat better understand each other. Whether or not this understanding will last is yet to be seen.

Chapter six reveals further examples of Lord Henry's manipulative ways. He brashly informs Basil of Dorian's engagement to Sybil, just so that he may watch his reaction. Then when Basil asks his opinion about the wedding his response is "I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now..... We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices. I never take any notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do." page 81. This whole statement is simply absurd. All Lord Henry ever does is air his moral prejudices and interfere with what "charming people" do. Lord Henry is nothing more than a walking contradiction. At the end of the chapter Basil comes to a realization, which is that the Dorian he once knew is lost to him forever. Due to the actions of Lord Henry Dorian changed and has lost the boy-like innocence he once possessed.