Quotation:
“The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live, undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet. Then neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it from alien hands. Your rank and wealth, Harry; my brains, such as they are – my art, whatever it may be worth; Dorian Gray’s good looks – we shall all suffer for what the gods have given us, suffer terribly.” (46)
Comment:
This quote by Basil stands in stark contrast to Lord Henry’s beliefs that beauty and youth are the most important aspects of life and that these qualities are superior to intellect. It feels like Basil is trying to warn Lord Henry that it hurts more than it helps to have beauty, wealth, or intelligence because those who have these things rely too much on them and those who don’t will try to exploit you for them. This is an incredibly rational way of thinking which is interesting because Lord Henry is the one who feels strongly about science and philosophy, not Basil. I feel like this warning may come up again because Lord Henry doesn’t seem to be taking it very seriously as he goes on the same tangent that precedes this quote with Dorian in the garden. I get the impression that Basil may act as a voice of reason because his dialogue and actions are distinctly reserved in comparison to Lord Henry and Dorian.
Question:
Is this quote foreshadowing how The Picture of Dorian Gray ends, or in other words, will we see each character meet their downfall as a result of their apparent “good” qualities?
