The Picture of Dorian Gray — Page 12

The Picture of Dorian Gray·Chapter 2 — CHAPTER I12/254 · 5%Page 12 of 254 · 5%

“Every day. I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him every day. He is absolutely necessary to me.”

“How extraordinary! I thought you would never care for anything but your art.”

Companion notes

In this snippet, we see a conversation that reveals a lot about the characters' relationships and priorities. The speaker expresses a deep emotional need for another person, which hints at a strong attachment or perhaps even obsession. It’s interesting how this contrasts with the second character's surprise; it suggests that the first character, likely Basil Hallward, has been more focused on his art than personal relationships until now.

The phrase “I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him every day” emphasizes the intensity of the speaker’s feelings, indicating a shift from artistic pursuits to emotional connections. The reference to “art” is significant in this context, as it sets the stage for the theme of beauty and the influence it has on the characters, especially Dorian Gray, who has yet to be introduced in detail but is central to this relationship.

Keep an ear out for who is speaking; it looks like Basil is expressing his feelings about Dorian Gray, who is pivotal to the unfolding story.

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