PODG: #5

“Something has changed you completely. You look exactly the same wonderful boy who, day after day, used to come down to my studio to sit for his picture. But you were simple, natural, and affectionate then. You were the most unspoiled creature in the whole world. Now, I don’t know what has come over you. You talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you” (Wilde 79).

            Although Basil realizes earlier in the novel that Dorian has moved on and is now fascinated with Lord Henry, this passage signifies a shift in Basil’s tone. Before Basil would only speak with love and passion to Dorian, daring not to upset him. However, Basil now speaks to Dorian directly and without a care of hurting Dorian’s feelings. With this in mind, Basil does not think before he speaks. He tells Dorian his honest opinion of Dorian’s change in personality and Dorian responds with, “You only taught me to be vain” (Wilde 79). Instead of his usual reply filled with adoration and compliments, Basil is so fed up with Dorian’s unpleasant attitude that he replies with a sneer comment. This exchange between Basil and Dorian not only signifies a shift in Basil’s tone, but also a change in Basil’s overall and future attitude towards Dorian. He no longer acts as Dorian’s worshiper who tells him only of praise, but rather views this end of friendship with sadness. This was not only a loss of a friendship, but more seriously, Basil lost his muse, his beautiful artwork, and most significantly, he lost his love.