Final Essay on Sin

Andy Medina

AP English

Mr. George

Final Essay on Sin

2/23/08

Topic 1

“Yet it was his duty to confess, to suffer public shame, and to make public atonement. There was a God who called upon men to tell their sins to earth as well as to heaven. Nothing that he could do would cleanse him till he had told his own sin” (228). After reading The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and The Picture of Dorian Gray, do you believe this quotation is true or false? 

People deal with sins in a multitude of ways.  This includes holding your sin within, publicly sharing your sin, or bearing your sin to God.  After reading The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and The Picture of Dorian Gray it is evident that dealing with sin is necessary to achieve redemption.  If you do not actively search to find a way to deal with your sin, you will not find redemption.  The different ways that a sinner deals with sin is demonstrated in the process that Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Reverend Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, and Dorian Gray all go through.  Those who did not seek redemption did not meet a good end, as exemplified by Dorian Gray and Abigail Williams.  Those who actively sought redemption found it and ended up at peace.  It seems that those who found their redemption were drawn to seek redemption.  The only way to find redemption is to seek it, and those who do seek redemption are almost always successful.  

From the three novels there are three people who committed a sin and sought redemption.  In The Crucible, John Proctor, a married man, committed the sin of adultery with Abigail Williams.  He is one of those who sought their redemption throughout the novel.  John makes a bad decision and is conscious of his action, but he actively seeks redemption.  He first deals with his sin by being open with the public by telling his wife, Elizabeth.  This is a valid attempt to try and find peace within himself, but his sin continues to follow him.  Abigail continued to accuse more townspeople of witchcraft.  He had to act to save those who were falsely accused.  He next tells the judge about his affair.  He does this because he thought that this would help him in his process of redemption, while also trying to save those who were falsely accused by Abigail and the other girls.  His guilt continues to build until he goes so low as to even give a false claim of witchcraft against himself, thus tarnishing his own name.  He realizes that giving his name gives him life, but not redemption.  He asks Elizabeth if she would think less of him, and she responds, “I cannot judge you, John, I cannot” (Miller 138).  This is where John realizes that no matter what he says or does no one can judge him but God.  Reverend Hale tries to convince John that it is not worth his life, and that he cannot hang.  John responds by saying, “I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can” (144).   John comes to the realization that with his death he gets rid of his public judges; they do not matter.  God is the final judge, and He awaits John through his death.  

In The Scarlet Letter there are two characters who actively seek redemption.  In the end it is evident that their efforts were worthwhile.  Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale both find redemption form their sin of adultery.  Hester Prynne’s sin of adultery is known to all because she has a child out of wedlock.  She is forced to wear the scarlet letter ‘A’ as a reminder of that sin and as a symbol to everyone else.  Her sin is known publicly, but it does not really help her along her path to judgment as much as opening herself up to God.  At first, she does not face her judgment through God.  She always dealt with her sin publicly, and for seven years she had to deal with the constant punishment of the townspeople.  Only after being prompted by Dimmesdale does Hester seek forgiveness from God.  Dealing with her sins publicly helped her overcome the evils in her past and find redemption, but it was not complete until she found peace with God.  After she makes peace with her sin she continues to wear the ‘A’ as a reminder of her sin and lives a good life.  She counsels those who are in need, especially women, and is buried in King’s Chapel which was the place where only the venerable were buried in Boston.  This shows how much change that her redemption brought in her life.  She went from the model of sin, to being buried in one of the most respected places in Boston.  

Reverend Dimmesdale’s redemption is different from Hester’s.  In fact, it is the exact opposite, but the result is still the same.  Dimmesdale is the town priest, and is highly respected and loved by all the members of the town.  He is the man whom people seek to solve their issues and help them with their sins, but this is ironic because he does not fully understand how to deal with his own sin.  He starts by privately dealing with his sin with God.  No one knows of his sin and he is tormented by the fact that he must watch Hester suffer under the public eye while he is still seen as a good man.  Seeing Hester deal with the people continues to torment him.  He believes that Hester is better off with her sin being in the public eyes, “Happy are you, Hester, that’s wear the scarlet letter openly on your bosom!  Mine burns in secret!” (Hawthorne 173).  Dimmesdale continues to suffer with his sin until he shows his sin publicly.  Everyone is in shock, including Hester.  She does not know what to do with her future, but Dimmesdale shares key advice that helps her to reach her redemption: “He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions.  By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast […] Praised be His name!  His will be done!” (229).  This is coming from a man who went through both ways of dealing with his sin, and his advice is to understand that God has a plan and it will be done.

These three people were all successful because they pursued redemption.  There is much to learn from their success.  John Proctor, Hester Prynne, and Reverend Dimmesdale are examples of people are drawn to confess their sins, and because they continuously sought to find redemption they found it by the end of the novels.  

In the case of Abigail Williams and Dorian Gray, redemption was never sought or found.  They are two sinners who did not work towards redemption, and because they did not search neither found redemption.  They tried to avoid the consequences of their sins, but neither of them escapes their final judgment.  In The Crucible, Abigail lives in a town where the people “had no ritual for the washing away of sins” (Miller 20).  This is obvious through her behavior.  Throughout the story she wreaks havoc in the town of Salem.  Instead of seeking redemption and admitting her sins, she blames others: “She sends her spirit on me in church […] She comes to me while I sleep” (44).  In this quotation Abigail blames Tituba for a sin that she committed, and moments later she changes her story and says, “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus!” (48).  It is evident that Abigail is willing to do anything to save herself from the punishment she should endure for her sins.  She continues her treacherous path throughout the book and incriminates many, even those who once were on her side.  She cannot runaway from her sins, and her sins eventually catch up to her as it is said that she turned up on the streets of Boston as a prostitute.

Dorian Gray is another character who does not seek redemption, and does not embrace his sins.  Dorian is first described as a beautiful young man whom Basil Hallward has drawn a wonderful portrait of.  The portrait is the best work Basil has ever done, but he is afraid to exhibit it: “I really can’t exhibit it.  I have put too much of myself into it” (Wilde 4).  Basil thinks that Dorian is young and beautiful and hopes that he continues to be that way, but is afraid of him becoming corrupt.  Basil is afraid of Lord Henry’s powerful influence and the fact that it could corrupt Dorian: “There is no such thing as good influence, Mr. Gray.  All influence is immoral […] to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul.  He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn his natural passions.  His virtues are not real to him” (20).  Lord Henry speaks will Dorian as Basil is finishing the portrait and speaks of how Dorian is young and beautiful.  Dorian is upset that he will grow old and says, “this picture will remain always young. [...] If it were only the other way. […] I would give my soul for that!” (28).  This was a major turning point in his life.  He had no idea that his wish would become his reality.

Dorian continues to change as the novel continues.  Dorian goes from a young, beautiful man who is innocent to a man who has become corrupted.  His actions take a full 360 degree turn.  This is evident through his interactions with Sybil.  He states he loves her, but he only loves her for what she could represent.  She is an actress, and Dorian never saw here for who she was.  She was always playing the part of another woman.  When she puts on a bad performance he is enraged and says he no longer lover her.  She apologizes to him but he pushes her away and watches her cry on the floor: There is always something ridiculous about the emotion of people whom one has ceased to love.  Sibyl Vane seemed to him to be absurdly melodramatic.  Her tears and sobs annoyed him” (92).  He goes from saying she is the love of his life to not caring for her at all.  He was corrupted by Lord Henry.  His actions lead Sybil to kill herself, and this does not take the affect that many would assume it would.  He felt some remorse and did not believe it happened, but his view quickly changed.  He was worried about himself and he hoped that he would not get involved in the investigation.  He even decided to go out with Lord Henry the night he finds out.  He shows how immoral he has become.  

After Sybil’s death Dorian looks at the portrait and sees a shocking change.  It the portrait has changed due to his guilt.  He said the portrait “would be to him the visible emblem of conscience.  He would resist temptation.  He would not see Lord Henry” (96).  This does not last very long.  After he speaks to Lord Henry he realizes that the portrait is a gift to him.  It would give him “Eternal youth, infinite passion, pleasures subtle and secret, wild joys and wilder sins- he was to have all these things.  The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame; that was all” (109).  He would change his life since he realized he no longer would carry the physical burden of his sins.  Since Dorian was not affected by his sins, he felt no need to seek redemption for them.  He continued through his life corrupting others and ruining their lives, while his portrait took the burden of his actions.  

Dorian’s life continued on a downward spiral, but he was never physically affected by his sins.  His portrait would take the burden of his sins.  It grew old and its beauty died with Dorian’s sins.  Dorian changed psychologically.  His change was noticeable and Basil confronted Dorian about the change, but met an untimely end when Dorian decided to kill Basil.  Basil was the only one who had ever been in the same room as the portrait.  Dorian killed him and destroyed the body.  Dorian continued to live a life of sin until he decided to destroy the only proof of his sins.  He wanted to destroy the portrait.  When he did so he died, and all the changes on the portrait are transmitted onto his body.  Through his death it is obvious that he did not receive redemption.  He never sought redemption.

Redemption is not an easy place to reach, but it is not impossible.  There are plenty of examples of people who sin, seek redemption, and reach it.  These people include John Proctor, Hester Prynne, and Reverend Dimmesdale.  They continuously sought redemption, and did not give up on their search.  They were sorry for their sins, and felt a need to find redemption for their sins.  Their redemption processes were different, but they all reached the same goal.  Those who did not find redemption, like Abigail Williams and Dorian Gray, did not ever search for redemption.  They did not feel the need to find forgiveness, so they did not seek redemption.  Those who want to be forgiven seek redemption, and they are almost always successful.  The secret of redemption is continuously trying to better oneself, and the three characters who reached redemption did so.  Redemption is important to reach if a person has sinned, and if a sinner does not seek it they will never find it.  

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter New York: Bantam Dell, 2003.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible New York: Penguin Group, 1976. 

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray New York: Barnes & Noble Classics 2003

February Break Assignment

1. School is like prison without the bars and the guns.  Your day is completely scheduled for you and you have no say in the matter.
2. Life is like sports.  There are winners and losers.  People get hurt and people get penalized, and there is always an end to the game.
3. Relationships are either good of bad, no in between.  If you think that your relationship is in between then your relationship is not real.
4. When someone falls in love they stop seeing the world around them for what it is.
5. If ignorance is bliss than what is intelligence?
6. In some cases hate is more real than love.  People say they hate things more than they say they love things.  How could love be more real?
7. Many people search for love, but it is not something you can find.  Many more people fall in love when they are not looking for it.
8. In many cases fame becomes a blindfold.  It is hard to see the world around you and the people in need.
9. Life gets harder when you have more money.  There are more decisions to be made.
10. It is said with great power comes great responsibility, but what happens if you do not have great power?  Are you really less responsible than others?

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 15-16

“isn’t he incorrigible?” (182).  Incorrigible- not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform 

“lying back in the hansom” (189). Hansom- a low-hung, two-wheeled, covered vehicle drawn by one horse, for two passengers, with the driver being mounted on an elevated seat behind and the reins running over the roof 

“‘To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the sense by means of the soul.’  Yes, that was the secret.  He had often tried it, and he would try it again now. […] the memory of old sins could be destroyed by the madness of sins that were new” (189).

In this quotation we see that Dorian is haunted by his sins and is in search of a way to rid himself of his guilt.  His sins are heavy on his mind and he continuously is thinking of them.  This is interesting because he believed that the portrait would bear the burden of his sins.  The portrait only bears the physical punishment from his sins, but the mental punishment still is heavy on Dorian’s mind.  He looks for a way to lessen the burden on his mind and he resorts to opium.  The last line of the quote may relate to this because through this new sin the old ones are forgotten, or less prevalent in Dorian’s mind.

“Each man lived his own life, and paid his own price for living it.  The only pity was one had to pay so often for a single fault.  One had to pay over and over again, indeed.  In her dealings with man, Destiny never closed her account” (194).

This quotation is about sins and the price one pays for them.  Sin is always on a person’s mind.  When you commit a sin you can only be at peace once you have sought forgiveness.  Once again the question of ‘where is forgiveness found?’ arises.  Dorian says that one cannot take the burden of another man’s sins, and that is true to an extent.  You should not worry about other people’s actions, but there are some actions which can affect another person.  Your own sins stay with you and should weigh heavier on your mind, but should not consume you.  Dorian’s sins are beginning to consume him, and everyday he is reminded of another sin that he has committed.  He will never be able to escape his sins, or the final judgment that will come with them.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 14

"He glanced at his own white taper fingers" (167-168) Taper- diminish gradually 

“that crouches in the porphyry-room"(169) Porphyry- a very hard rock, anciently quarried in Egypt, having a dark, purplish-red groundmass containing small crystals of feldspar 

“I will have absolutely nothing to do with it.  I don’t care what shame comes on you.  You deserve it all.  I should not be sorry to see you disgraced, publicly disgraced.  How dare you ask me, of all men in the world, to mix myself up in this horror?  I should have thought you knew more about people’s characters.  Your friend Lord Henry Wotton can’t have taught you much about psychology, whatever else he has taught you. Nothing will induce me to stir a step to help you” (173).

There are many different ideas that can be inferred from this quote.  Obviously Alan does not want to help Dorian for a specific reason.  Dorian must have wronged him in such a way that Alan feels no more connection to him.  It was said that they used to be inseparable, but now it is quite the opposite.  Alan said he would never have even entered Dorian’s house if it wasn’t a matter of life or death.  One can only imagine what Dorian could have done to Alan.  It must have been something awful just like how Dorian negatively affected the lives of so many others.  There seems to be another underlying tone in this quote.  Alan speaks of Lord Henry in a sort of negative tone, and most likely Lord Henry is seen as a bad person by Alan too.  Alan would not have helped Dorian if it wasn’t for the blackmail that Dorian has over Alan.  It will be very interesting how their relationship will unfold.

“Whatever my life is, he had more to do with the making or the marring of it than poor Harry has had. He may not have intended it, the result was the same” (173). 

Dorian defends Harry in this quote.  I don’t understand how Dorian can be this naive about Harry’s influence over him.  He has changed over time and it is obvious to him through the ever-changing portrait.  He must realize that Harry is the reason for this change, but he doesn’t.  Instead he blames others, like Basil, for his actions.  He says that Basil changed him more than Harry did.  That is absurd!  Harry was the worst influence over Dorian.  He was the one who put the thoughts of everlasting beauty in Dorian’s head.  All Basil did was paint the portrait of Dorian.  Dorian is really distraught and far from the truth.  I don’t know how or if he will ever see the truth.  It will be interesting to see if he does, and how he comes about it.  

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 12-13

“you should not have made his sister’s name a byword” (154).  Byword- a word or phrase associated with some person or thing; a characteristic expression, typical greeting, or the like 

“starred with myriads of golden eyes” (163).  Myriad- a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things 

“to see your soul.  But only God can do that […] I shall show you my soul.  You shall see the thing that you fancy only God can see” (156-157).

Basil says that he wants to see Dorian’s soul, but what he doesn’t know is that it is physically possible.  In reality only God can look into a person’s soul, but this is not the case for Dorian Gray.  His soul is portrayed through the portrait that Basil has painted.  The changes within this portrait are the marks of sin, and no one would be able to see it without being horrified.  When Basil sees the portrait he is in shock and does not believe it is his own work of art, but all his marks are present.  He does not know how to handle the situation, but he does not have long to deal with the shock of the portrait.  Soon after a mysterious rage comes over Dorian and he kills Basil for no reason.  These two chapters were really exciting.  

“I worshiped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshiped yourself too much. We are both punished” (162).

In this quote we see Basil once again trying to make everything right.  He is such a genuinely nice person, and he continuously suffers for it.  Dorian shuns Basil and looks down upon him, just like when Basil came forth for why he painted the portrait.  Dorian says that Basil’s confession is not even a good compliment.  We see Basil through this quote try and take some of the blame from Dorian.  He should not do anything like that.  He did nothing wrong.  He is not responsible for the sins Dorian has committed.  All he is responsible of is painting a portrait, the most beautiful portrait he ever painted.  He put no magic into it; he only poured his heart into it.  Dorian is responsible for the wish and the sins that he is given.  He will be punished for his action.  This is not Basil’s punishment.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 11

“He grew more and more enamored of his own beauty” (131).  Enamored- marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness 

"especially the art of those whose minds have been troubled with the malady of reverie"(134). Reverie- a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing 

“He himself would creep up-stairs to the locked room, open the door with the key that never left him now, and stand, with a mirror, in front of the portrait that Basil Hallward had painted of him, looking now at the evil and aging face on the canvas, and now at the fair young face that laughed back at him from the polished glass” (131).  

In this quote we see a change in Dorian.  Before he was ashamed to look at the changes in the portrait, but after time has passed he enjoys looking at the changes in the portrait and is happy that they have not happened to him.  The portrait serves as mirror into his soul, and he could see that his actions were taking a negative affect on his soul.  He did not seem to really care that his sins were destroying the portrait, but he did wonder which sins were worse; “wondering sometimes which were the more horrible, the signs of sin or the signs of age” (131).  He was happy he was not affected by his sins directly, but was interested in the “corruption of his own soul” (131).  

“On his return he would sit in front of the picture, sometimes loathing it and himself, but filled, at other times, with that pried of individualism that is half the fascination of sin, and smiling, with secret pleasure, at the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should be his own” (144).

Dorian is filled with horror by the portrait.  No matter where he goes he does not feel safe.  The lingering of the knowledge of the portrait weighs heavy on his heart, and he is always nervous about the portrait.  He thinks that while he is away that someone will break into the room and steal the portrait and his secret will be revealed.  There are times where he is entertaining guests and he runs away, back to his house, to check that the portrait has not been tampered with.  When he sees the portrait he is filled with many feelings.  He is happy that the portrait carries the burden that should have fallen upon him, but there are times he hates it and himself.  He feels some remorse for his actions, but he is filled with the pleasure that he must not carry the burden of his sins.  

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 9-10

“and became a confirmed misanthrope” (113).  Misanthrope- a hater of humankind 

"Old brocades, green bronzes, lacquer-work, carved ivories, exquisite surroundings, luxury, pomp - there is much to be got from all these" (Wilde 114).  Brocade- fabric woven with an elaborate design, esp. one having a raised overall pattern 

“A man who is a master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure.  I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions.  I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them” (112).

In this quote we see a resemblance between Dorian’s words and Harry’s words.  This is something that I’d expect to hear from Harry.  Dorian is talking about how a man who masters his emotions is a true master if himself.  He can end sorrows and create pleasure for him, and is not at the mercy of his emotions.  Dorian is saying he wants to master his emotions and he wants to enjoy his life.  Harry’s influence is just seen more through this quote.  Because of Harry’s influence Dorian was able to get over the loss of the girl he “loved”.  Dorian is changing too quickly and it is being noticed by everyone around him.  Basil is one of those.  “You talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you.  It is all Harry’s influence.  I see that” (112).  

“‘Yes? I thought you would like it’ […] ‘I didn’t say I liked it, Harry, I said it fascinated me.  There is a great difference.’  ‘Ah, you have discovered that?’”  (129).

In this quote Dorian is telling Harry how he felt about the book that Harry had left him to read.  Dorian said it was a “poisonous book” (129).  The book fascinated him and he tells Harry this.  Harry is pleased because he thought Dorian would like it, but is mistaken.  Dorian says “I didn’t say I liked it” (129).  It is very interesting to see this interaction.  It shows how Dorian is evolving through the novel.  He saw things for their outward appearance, but is now seeing things more in depth, as it is shown through his talking of the book.  It also is interesting to see Harry’s reaction to Dorian.  He is surprised and seems happy that Dorian has changed this much because it is all a result of his influence upon Dorian.  

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 8

“There were opiates for remorse” (100).  Opiates- A drug, hormone, or other chemical substance having sedative or narcotic effects similar to those containing opium or its derivatives 

“the sanguine labyrinth” Sanguine- cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident ; reddish; ruddy 

“The girl never really lived, and so she has never really died.  To you at least she was always a dream, a phantom that flitted through Shakespeare’s plays and left them lovelier for its presence […] the moment she touched actual life, she marred it, and it marred her, and so she passed away […] don’t waster your tears over Sibyl Vane.  She was less real than they are” (107).

In this quote we see Harry speak of what we spoke of in class.  Dorian never saw Sibyl living her own life.  He fell in love with her acting, and the characters that she portrayed.  She always acted in love.  When she found true love it doomed her because she did not receive the same feelings.  Dorian’s love for her was different.  When he saw her for what she was he was displeased and heartbroken.  He shot her down and she killed herself because she had lost the love of her life.

“Eternal youth, infinite passion, pleasures subtle and secret, wild joys and wilder sins- he was to have all these things.  The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame; that was all” (109)

Dorian’s view about life has changed.  When he fell in “love” with Sibyl he vowed to avoid Harry’s influence.  In this quote we see that Dorian has come to the realization that he is going to live his life differently.  He vowed to not see Lord Henry again or listen to his “poisonous theories” (96).  In this quote we see that Dorian has realized he does not need to live with the affects of his sins or shame.  He is going to live a life of eternal youth and not be responsible for his actions.  The portrait would show the “burden of his shame” (109).  His life will be much different than before.  Harry’s influence is coming full circle.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 7

“she was curiously listless” (87).  Listless- having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless; indifferent 

“their beauty seemed to bring him an anodyne for his pain” (93).  Anodyne- a medicine that relieves or allays pain 

“She crouched on the floor like a wounded thing, and Dorian Gray, with his beautiful eyes, looked down ate her, and his chiseled lips curled in exquisite disdain.  There is always something ridiculous about the emotion of people whom one has ceased to love.  Sibyl Vane seemed to him to be absurdly melodramatic.  Her tears and sobs annoyed him” (92).

In this quote there is a change that is seen in Dorian.  He used to worship the ground that Sibyl walked on and now, because of a horrible acting performance, he cannot stand to even look and her and tells her he never wants to see her again.  This is amazing and really surprising.  I knew something would happen between them, but not because of her acting.  This shows that Dorian did not really love her but the acting or just the idea of her.  Dorian’s actions are shocking.  He is annoyed by her crying and really does not care that he just broke her heart.  It seems that his feelings are rapidly changing, and this is definitely not going to benefit him.  It is most likely because of the influence of Harry, and something terrible will happen because of this influence.  

“For every sin that he committed, a stain would fleck and wreck its fairness.  But he would not sin.  The picture, changed or unchanged, would be to him the visible emblem of conscience.  He would resist temptation.  He would not see Lord Henry” (96).

The picture is changing when Dorian commits a sin or has a feeling of guilt!  That’s pretty weird, but it is an interesting turning point in the plot of the story.  While Dorian tries to mend his relationship with Sibyl and end his relationship with Harry the picture should go through many different changes.  It will serve as a mirror to Dorian’s conscience.  When he does something bad or regrets and action it will be seen in the changes of the picture.  Most likely it will change to the point where it is old and withering away.  He will maybe be overtaken by trying to prevent the picture from changing, but will most likely make more changes in the picture trying to prevent it.  

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 5-6

“murmured Mrs. Vane, taking up a tawdry theatrical dress” (66). Tawdry- Gaudy and cheap in nature or appearance 

“‘You are quite incorrigible, Harry’” (81).  Incorrigible- not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform 

“‘Yes, Dorian, you will always be fond of me.  I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit’” (84).

Once again we see the affect that Harry feels he has over Dorian, even after Dorian has said that when he is with Sibyl he regrets everything that Harry has taught him.  Harry acts as almost the other half of Dorian in this book.  Dorian is beautiful and young.  Harry is older and very wise and well-spoken.  They are almost exact opposites and that is maybe why they are attracted to each other.  Dorian is drawn to Harry in a almost supernatural sense.  He even says he does not know why he likes him.  It will be very interesting to see their relationship develop with Sibyl now being involved.  

“‘To be in love is to surpass one’s self’” (71).  “‘The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish.  And unselfish people are colorless.  They lack individuality’”  (78).

There is a similarity between these two quotes that no one would expect.  Sibyl and Harry are saying similar things, but no on would believe that the two share a common belief.  The two seem to be two very different people.  Harry, with all his very absurd ideas, has a very reasonable main idea.  Marriage makes a person unselfish, which it should.  When a person gets married they have to love and care for another as they would love and care for themselves.  Sibyl’s idea is that when you are in love you are more than yourself.  You are connected to like you are to no other person.  You surpass caring for yourself and care for another.  You are unselfish.  These two quotes are very similar and I was surprised to see them from two very different characters.