Dorian Gray #3

            The romantic relationship between Sibyl Vane and Dorian Gray is opposed by all but the two of them. Mrs. Vane cares little for her daughter’s wellbeing, and considers it an inconvenient time for Sibyl to fall in love as her brother is leaving for Australia. She tells Sibyl, “I have so much to think of, I must say that you should have shown more consideration” (Wilde 45). Mrs. Vane is a very self-focused woman, but even so, her cavalier attitude about her daughter’s potential marriage demonstrates a certain skepticism. It seems as though she does not believe that Sibyl has actually fallen in love. Mrs. Vane fills her life with theater, treating every event in her life as if it were a moment onstage. The manner in which she analyzes the benefits of the marriage shows the same superficiality. Sibyl’s brother, on the other hand, is concerned for Sibyl’s happiness and safety. When he misses Dorian pass by in the park, he tells Sibyl, “I wish I had [seen him], for as sure as there is a God in heaven, if he ever does you any wrong, I shall kill him” (50). Jim Vane is not attractive like his sister, yet his depth of emotion and his honesty are much greater than other characters in the novel. What he lacks in beauty, he makes up for in character. His apprehension about the relationship makes the reader more wary than the mother’s displeasure since he genuinely cares for Sibyl.

            Just as Sibyl’s family opposes the relationship, Basil and Harry do as well. Basil is shocked when he hears that Dorian is engaged: “But think of Dorian’s birth, and position, and wealth. It would be absurd for him to marry so far beneath him” (53). Basil genuinely seems to care about Dorian’s wellbeing, just as Jim cares for Sibyl. He thinks that Dorian is rushing into a relationship that he will never be able to undo. However, he does not tell Dorian that he disagrees with his relationship. Harry, on the other hand,  is very forthcoming as he tells Dorian the downfalls of marriage: “Women, as some witty Frenchman once put it, inspire us with the desire to do masterpieces, and always prevent us from carrying them out” (58). Harry cares less for Dorian’s happiness than he does for his own experiment. Harry enjoys influencing Dorian, and he knows that marriage will affect him. Similar to Mrs. Vane’s preoccupation with the “scene,” Harry is always focused on controlling what happens around him. Only Dorian and Sibyl see their relationship as a good idea.