The Picture of Dorian Gray #3: Basil’s Oblivion

            In the third night’s reading the reader becomes aware of how out of touch Basil has become with Dorian’s life.  Over the past couple of chapters the reader has seen Dorian dramatically change, but Basil has not been in contact with Dorian so he is not aware of the changes.  When Lord Henry informs Basil of Dorian’s engagement, Basil reacts: “‘Impossible! … Dorian is far too sensible’” (Wilde 77).  The Dorian that Basil used to know was a sensible guy, but with Lord Henry’s influence, Dorian has become hedonistic and few things he now does seem sensible to the outside observer; Dorian now only does things that please him rather than what makes sense.  Basil’s oblivion in regards to Dorian’s hedonism is shown when Basil says that Dorian “‘is not like other men.  He would never bring misery upon any one.  His nature is too fine for that’” (81).  Basil doesn’t realize that Dorian’s nature has changed; he is completely oblivious to the fact that Dorian is a hedonist that does things for his own pleasure and doesn’t care if his actions bring misery upon others as long as they don’t bring misery upon himself.  Another part of Dorian’s life that Basil is oblivious to is the influence Lord Henry has.  When Basil first finds out about Dorian’s engagement he mentions that he hopes it is a good girl because he doesn’t “want to see Dorian tied to some vile creature who might degrade his nature and ruin his intellect” (78).  The dramatic irony with this statement is that although Basil is talking about Dorian’s fiancé, the reader realizes that the description applies to Lord Henry’s influence, an influence that Basil has yet to realize.  Although Basil has yet to realize Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian, by the end of six he realizes that Dorian has changed and he feels “that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been in the past.  Life had come between them” (84).  Basil’s realization marks the end to his oblivion of how Dorian has changed although he is still not aware of why he has changed.