DG Ch. 9-10

"Don't talk about horrid subjects. If one doesn't talk about a thing, it has never happened. It is simply expression, as Harry says, that gives reality to things" (111)

At this point, Dorian has completely lost his mind. Henry's influence has completely scrambled Dorian's old state of thinking because no rational human being would think this way. If I do not talk about something, then it did not happen. This is totally bizarre. Dorian believes in everything Henry says so much that his own common sense has been replaced by random arguments made by Henry. It has even been remarked that Henry never means anything he says. If Henry's arguments are not meant to lead anywhere, then he has no reason to make them sound logical. He just makes arguments for the sake of arguing. The problem with Dorian is that he cannot tell the difference between logical and illogical arguments. In this case, Dorian has been so influenced by Henry and become so detached from society that he literally believes he can decide what is fake and what is reality. However, Dorian does not realize that reality is constant and unchanging. You cannot turn it off when you want to; it is always present and true. Dorian's corrupted mental process blinds him from witnessing that truth and will lead to more difficult times down the road.

"His own soul was looking out at him from the canvas and calling him to judgement. A look of pain came across him and he flung the rich pall over the picture" (123)

Dorian continues to try to break away from the truth and to be free from all anxiety. Whenever he looks at the portrait, he is reminded of all the terrible sins he has committed and the mistakes he has made. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we may see some unpleasant things, both physically and mentally, that we do not like necessarily. However, we can always try to find some positives in how we see ourselves to feel good in the end. But when Dorian looks at his portrait, all he can see is the negative aspects of his life. He cannot witness anything positive to lift up his spirits. It is essentially his conscience which constantly brings his most shameful memories to the surface even though he would like to bury them deep down inside whatever soul he may have left.