"Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them"(70).
It is characteristic of all parents to love and raise their children to the best of their ability. The love shown to children is reflected back to their parents. As children grow and begin to view the world on their own, they formulate their own ideas and theories. Everyone has a different worldview, and children may have an opposing worldview with their parent. As tension grows, a need for individualism, as Lord Henry continuously refers to, is needed. Children want to live their own lives away from the influence of their parents, as with James: "I have chosen my own life. [...] I am sixteen [...] and I know what I am about" (67-73). This radicalism has been characteristic of all adolescents with James leaving to Australia and Dorian and Sibyl getting engaged. Hopefully, they will learn their lessons and and forgive their parents.
"The reason why we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves" (79).
Dorian Gray's greatest fear is to lose his beauty with age: "If it were I who was to always be young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that-- for that-- I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!" (28). Dorian would do anything to escape this inevitable end, yet he has found Sibyl Vane. Sibyl can be looked upon as an appeasement for the loss of Dorian's youth. Dorian sees pure beauty in Sibyl: "She is absolutely and entirely divine" (58). This revelation of Sibyl's beauty has made Dorian erase his fear. Another example can be seen through Sibyl's mother. She thinks so well of Dorian for he seems to be affluent. A marriage with Sibyl and Dorian would help the money problems of Sibyl's mother.
Vocabulary:
"She grumbled at his unpunctuality as he entered" (74).
unpunctual- adj. not happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time.
"'You are quite incorrigible, Harry; but I don't mind'" (81).
incorrigible- adj. (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed
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