Victorians! discussion

This week's fare is rather unpleasant...

Chapter 13
Basil is appalled what he sees of what the portrait has become. He urges Dorian to pray with him and to change course. In a fit of rage Dorian kills Basil.

Chapter 14
Dorian has the body of Basil “taken care of.”

Chapter 15
Dorian spends the evening as one of the invited guests of Lady Narborough’s dinner party. He is quiet and subdued, the conversation ebbing and flowing around him. Only Henry notices something is “off.”

Chapter 16
After leaving Lady Narborough’s, Dorian changes clothes and heads for the seedier parts of town down by the docs and the opium dens. A chance encounter with Sibyl’s brother James almost costs him his life, but the youth of his appearance saves him.

Huh. I remembered D killing someone but didn’t remember it was Basil. Poor guy. He’s the only character I’ve liked this time around.

Did I miss a prior reference to Alan Campbell? Or is he a new character?

I just did a word search online - just to make sure - and yes, he is a new character.

I had also forgotten that

Alan must have been one of the persons Basil alluded to when he confronted Dorian and all the nasty rumors about him. Of Dorian corrupting young men and women and causing their downfall as we see when Dorian recognizes a former aquaintance at the opium den. Of people who don't want to be in the same room with him and generally shun him. At this point Dorian has quite a "rap sheet," and that's without the murder.

When Basil, being an artist and careful observer of people, confronts Dorian, he says something quite striking:

"At least, I can’t believe them [rumors] when I see you. Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man’s face. It cannot be concealed. People talk sometimes of secret vices. There are no such things. If a wretched man has a vice, it shows itself in the lines of his mouth, the droop of his eyelids, the moulding of his hands even."

This is exactly what is happening with the portrait!

Makes me wonder what Dorian used to blackmail Alan into becoming an accessory to the murder.

Renee wrote: "Makes me wonder what Dorian used to blackmail Alan into becoming an accessory to the murder."

I would guess that it would involve a homosexual encounter. That seems to be the biggest societal taboo at that time; prison time and personal ruin would be the result if Dorian revealed Alan's secret.

Chapter 19 spoiler: (view spoiler)[ In Chapter 19, Henry casually mentions that Alan Campbell had committed suicide. I wonder if that was also related to the secret that Dorian held over him-- he was afraid that Dorian would continue to try to manipulate him with it. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with Suki. It probably have to be a homosexual relationship.

Dorian was just a narcissist up until this week's reading, now he is also a psychopath. It was really creepy how calm and collected he was able to sleep and wake up the next morning. This book took a really weird and dark turn. Personally, I haven't liked any of the characters in this book. I'll be glad when this book is over.

Kerstin wrote: "When Basil, being an artist and careful observer of people, confronts Dorian, he says something quite striking:
"At least, I can’t believe them [rumors] when I see you. Sin is a thing that write..."

This is a really great perspective on the characters. Basil is an artist and an observer--he sees things as they are and looks deeper that which surrounds him. Dorian has become exactly like his portrait with his character--ugly and evil.

The only blackmail with Alan makes me wonder too... what did he do that Alan was so afraid of Dorian revealing?

I will say overall, the last half of the novel really picked up the pace for me as I read it. As I feel most Victorian novels do--they are sometimes slow in the beginning to build up theme, character and plot but it seems to unravel quickly towards the last half of the novel.

Jackie wrote: "I will say overall, the last half of the novel really picked up the pace for me as I read it. As I feel most Victorian novels do--they are sometimes slow in the beginning to build up theme, character and plot but it seems to unravel quickly towards the last half of the novel. "

Quite a contrast to our fast-pace time, isn't it? I really like the slower pace. The story evolves naturally, nothing is rushed. You get to meet the main characters, their place, their situation. The language often quite beautiful, poetic and lyrical, melodies written with words. Once the story reaches the pinnacle, the events set in motion can have their full impact. Not many stories are written this way anymore, let alone have the linguistic sophistication.