# Chapter VI explained — The Picture of Dorian Gray

> Chapter companion for The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

## What happens

Lord Henry informs Basil that Dorian is engaged to the actress Sibyl Vane. Basil is shocked and disapproves, but Lord Henry defends the engagement as an interesting experience. Dorian arrives and exuberantly describes his love for Sibyl, recounting their kiss after her performance as Rosalind. The three then go to the theatre to see Sibyl perform.

## Themes in this chapter

### Aestheticism and Morality

Lord Henry dismisses moral concerns about the engagement, valuing beauty and experience over conventional ethics.

### Influence and Corruption

Lord Henry's hedonistic philosophy continues to shape Dorian's actions, as seen in his casual attitude toward marriage.

### Vanity and the Double Life

Dorian's engagement to an actress from a lower social class hints at the duality between his public status and private desires.

## Character check-ins

### Dorian Gray

Announces his engagement to Sibyl Vane, describing his love and the kiss they shared after her performance.

### Lord Henry Wotton

Informs Basil of Dorian's engagement, defends it as an experience, and discusses his views on marriage and optimism.

### Basil Hallward

Shocked and disapproving of Dorian's engagement, worries about Dorian's future and feels a sense of loss.

### Sibyl Vane

Mentioned as the actress Dorian is engaged to; Dorian describes her beauty and acting.

## Key lines

> I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now. It is an absurd attitude to take towards life. We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices.

Lord Henry claims he no longer judges things as right or wrong, as doing so is a foolish way to live; our purpose is not to broadcast our moral biases.

_Reflects Lord Henry's amoral, aesthetic worldview._

> The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people are colourless. They lack individuality.

Lord Henry argues that marriage's main flaw is that it forces people to be selfless, which drains them of personality and makes them dull.

_Highlights Lord Henry's cynical view of marriage as a threat to individuality._

> I have the greatest contempt for optimism. As for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested.

Lord Henry expresses disdain for optimism, asserting that a life is only ruined if its development is stopped.

_Captures Lord Henry's belief in continuous experience and rejection of conventional morality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_picture_of_dorian_gray_se/chapters