The Picture of Dorian Gray #7: Chapter 9 and 10

"If one doesn't talk about a thing, it has never happened" (111).

Dorian believes that he can get away with what he has done to Sibyl without any consequences: "What is done is done. What is past is past" (112). He does not even care for the girl or "the memory of a few kisses and some broken, pathetic words" (115).  He ends up even hiding the portrait in order for him to be the only one who would being see the alterations in the painting. One cannot hide from sin, for God is the finally judge of one's moral actions. God has the knowledge of the moral process, and therefore will hold Dorian accountable for his actions. As of now, Dorian's moral process has been modified by Lord Henry's influence. Hopefully, God will see this and not punish Dorian as harshly. 

"The past could always be annihilated; regret, denial, or forgetfulness could do that. But the future was inevitable. There were passions in him that would find their terrible outlet, dreams that would make the shadow of their evil real" (123).

Continuing the first quote, Dorian feels the past is not important to him. Such and such has happened, and now it is over with. You can regret it, then deny it, but eventually just forget about it altogether. Dorian cannot escape the clutches of sin without a change or seeking to make his wrongs right. By hiding his painting and feeling no emotion towards Sibyl, Dorian is leading himself onto the wrong path. We have seen before the consequences for not dealing with sin in The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible.

Vocabulary:

"She lingered for a few moments, and was garrulous over some detail of the household" (122).

garrulous- adj. excessively talkative

"He had absolutely nothing to do, almost died of ennui, and became a confirmed misanthrope" (113).

misanthrope- n. a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society