The PIcture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Lets pretend that Basil symbolizes Dorian's conscience. How does Dorian's reaction to Basil Hallward mirror the reaction sinners have when their sins are pointed out? How does Dorian solve this problem? What keeps people from humbling themselves to admit mistakes? Have you ever had a bad experience with a friend who you confronted in love, but were attacked for being judgmental instead? How did you handle the situation?
I think that Dorian and Basil externally portray the internal struggle that one faces when s/he reflects and realizes the depths that they have sunk. The conversation on pages 160-162 seem to really embody what I have mentioned. Basil says over and over again that 'it can't be' and that 'it is not too late'. Basil seems to be the part of the mind that wants to fix things, the side of the soul that recognizes that there is a hope and that one needs to find it. Dorian plays the opposite side. Dorian realizes his mistakes and sees only a downward slope. I guess, in an odd way, you could also see the "flight or fight" scenario going on here as well. Dorian simply wants to run away, but Basil would not be satisfied with that. I think that Basil's continuing pressure and backtracking are what lead to the final part of the chapter. I refuse to give the conclusion of this scene away to anyone. It's the best part of the book. We, the person I am answering this for, know how Dorian handled it; the fool!

I think that our perception of perfection and our struggle to reach perfection are what keep us from admitting our mistakes. We know that perfection is real. We also know that we haven't been perfect. I think that we want to pretend that we have reached perfection simply because it would make things easier for us. If we fool ourselves into thinking we are perfect and that everything we do is for good, then we never have to worry about anything.

Approaching people about a problem that we see them having or a sin that we perceive them to be committing always leads to a blow up. I think that Wilde really knew what he was talking about when he wrote this book. The conversations he has had between Dorian, Lord Henry and Basil are realistic and painfully familiar. I think, from the experiences that I have had, that I am jaded when it comes to these conversations.