"I worshipped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshipped yourself too much. We are both punished" (162).
Basil's revelation of the sin that Dorian and Basil have committed is actually obvious. Basil was infatuated with Dorian, obsessed or even in love. Though one may find love as a positive thing, "Thou shalt not love false gods before Me" (Bible). Basil was worshipping Dorian as if he were God; that is breaking a commandment. As for Dorian, asking for such a power or ability to not age like all humans was a selfish act, a proud act. Pride is the worst of all vices and plants a seed of evil within one's heart. The punishment for his pride can be seen through the painting.
"He felt that the secret of the whole thing was not to realize the situation. The friend who had painted the fatal portrait to which all his misery had been due had gone out of his life. That was enough" (164).
Dorian still does not realize that dealing with sin is the most important thing. Basil tries to make Dorian repent by praying, but Dorian refuses and ends up killing Basil. Dealing with sin has been a key theme in this book. It is as if God is intentionally leaving clues for Dorian to piece together, yet the puzzle is just too complicated for him. The painting could have came to good use. What if Dorian did not act in such a bad manner, but with goodness? His beauty may have remained or grown. This reflection of his conscience could have been an example of the gratitude model of morality. The more evil committed, the uglier he would become. The more good committed, his beauty would flourish.
Vocabulary:
"and whisper about what they call the profligacies of their betters" (155).
profligacy- n. something that is recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources
"You should not have made his sister's name a byword" (155).
byword- n. a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something
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