PODG #7

“There are moments, psychologists tell us, when the passion for sin…dominates a nature” (139).

                Dorian Gray has in many ways turned into a monster. Though his face is the same, he is an unrecognizable person to those who knew him before the portrait was created. That or he killed the ones that still recognized him. However, the question is whether he has hit this point of no return where sin truly does “dominate” him. Wilde writes that when a person hits this point, “chance is taken from them, and conscience is either killed, or… lives to give rebellion its fascination, and disobedience its charm” (139).  Dorian’s conscience, however, does not truly appear to be dead. Basil’s death is still ruminating in his mind. In fact, he still carries around Sibyl Vane’s death with him as well. Dorian does horrible things, but there is definitely still a sense of guilt with him after he commits these acts. Though he tries very hard to pretend like it does not affect him, Wilde purposefully shows the thought popping up in Dorian’s mind. Dorian very much wants to be this type of person where he can just let sin take over, but it is safe to say that he is not completely succeeding.