PODG: Ch. 7 & 8

"He had dreamed of her as a great artist, had given his love to her because he had thought her great. Then she disappointed him. She had been shallow and unworthy. [...] But he had suffered also" (95).

When one is in love with their partner, one is supposed to accept their partner for who they are, including their flaws. In this case, Sibyl did not flaw because she was a bad actress. She flawed because Dorian "taught [Sibyl] what reality really is [and] freed [her] soul from prison" (90). When Sibyl played her role as Juliet, she mimicked being in love because she did not know what love really felt like until Dorian came into her life: "I might mimic a passion that I do not feel, but I cannot mimic one that burns me like fire" (91). How was she going to mimic being in love when she really was in love, especially if she had to mimic love to a hideous Romeo? If she needed to show her love, then it would have been to her beloved. Thus, Sibyl was unable to play her role as Juliet. Dorian should have taken this as a compliment instead of throwing a fit. Dorian avoids feeling remorse by finding unreasonable justification as to why he had the complete right to yell at Sibyl: "During the three terrible hours that the play had lasted he had lived centuries of pain, eon upon eon of torture. His life was well worth hers" (95). Dorian did not need to sit in the audience. He chose to, so he should not be complaining. Dorian loved the actress Sibyl played, but not Sibyl. If he did, then he would have appreciated her for her devotion and gratitude towards him: "I knew nothing but shadows, and I thought them real. You came -oh, my beautiful love!- and you freed my soul. [...] You had brought me something higher, something of which all art is but a reflection" (90).


"Like the gods of the Greeks, he would be strong, and fleet, and joyous. What did it matter what happened to the colored image on the canvas? He would be safe. That was everything" (110).

Dorian continues to hold a selfish attitude and worries solely about his looks. When Dorian realizes the painting acts as his conscience and chooses to "not see Lord Henry anymore" (96), it seems as though he will change for the better. Instead of committing to his resolution, Dorian ends up talking to Lord Henry about Sybil's death and listens to his theories, ending Lord Henry's visit by telling him, "you are certainly my best friend. No one has ever understood me as you have" (108). Part of the reason why Lord Henry knows Dorian so well is because Lord Henry molded him into an object of his desires and influenced Dorian with negative attributes. Dorian also believes Sibyl's death "has been a marvelous experience [and] wonder[s] if life has still in store for [him] anything as marvelous" (108). The girl killed herself out of love for him. She stepped into reality and Dorian hated her for that. Where is the regret he should be having? He even had the nerve to say Sybil "had no right to kill herself [and] it was selfish of her" (103). Sybil had complete right to do as she wished to herself and what she did was due to Dorian's immaturity. Dorian has not learned anything from this tragedy. Hopefully, his painting will help him come to his senses.