Abstract
This passage takes place in the middle of chapter II, in which Lord Henry has just been introduced for the first time to Dorian by his friend Basil. During this scene of first encounter Lord Henry made an impressive philosophic speech about one's self and soul, moral influence, virtues and sins, desires and temptation, but also about youth and beauty and the passing of time, that is another version of the Latin "carpe diem" and Greek Hedonism.. In the meantime Basil was painting Dorian's portrait and as Dorian was listening to Lord Henry's terrible words, falling into great trouble and fascination, Basil could paint all these emotions on the picture. The passage that follows and that we are going to study is a key moment : it is the turning point of the novel because it will have decisive consequences for the rest of the story. Actually Basil has just finished the portrait and he lets his friends look at his masterpiece and judge it.
