PODG #2

In chapter 7 of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian realizes that he loved Sibyl for her acting, and that he does not love her anymore. Dorian, Basil, and Lord Henry attend a play Sibyl is acting in and Dorian realizes what a terrible actress she is. Before the play, Dorian describes Sibyl with such beauty and excellence: "'she is divine beyond all living things. When she acts you will forget everything'" (Wilde 59). During Sibyl's performance, Dorian's opinion is changed drastically. He "grew pale as he watched her...[and was] puzzled and anxious" (Wilde 60). Here, Dorian realizes that his love was influenced by an alterable characteristic. Sibyl claims that before loving Dorian, she was able to become more emotionally one with her characters, and now that she loves him, all her emotion is directed in his direction. Dorian is outraged with Sibyl's performance, and calls off their love. He leaves Sibyl devastated, only to discover that she killed herself later that night in the next chapter. Dorian no longer loving Sibyl shows an important characteristic: Dorian can be easily influenced with what is presented to him, just as Lord Henry is appealing to Dorian's character.