Sibyl Vane – the beginning of the end
Sibyl Vane is the young girl who instantly caught the heart of Dorian Gray, but lost it just as quickly. Although, they only knew each other for a few weeks, she is the woman how had the most emotional impact on Dorian’s life. The story about Sibyl was a great tragedy. Her real importance was not revealed until after her death. With some “help” from his friend Lord Henry and his philosophies, Dorian began his journey down the dark path towards his fall. Sibyl Vane was the beginning of the end for Dorian Gray.
Before Sibyl meet Dorian, she lived with her mother and brother in one of the poorer areas of London. Sibyl, and also her mother, performed at a theatre to pay back their debts to the Jew Mr. Isaacs, who had helped them with their economic problems. Sibyl was very beautiful and an amazingly talented actress. She was also totally innocent and inexperienced, isolated from the world by the theatre. She said; “my only experience up to this point is a kind of sheltered half-life on the stage.” This also resulted in a lack of cynicism, so when she for the first time experienced real emotions, they completely overwhelmed her. When she met her Prince Charming - Dorian Gray, she felt like it was the best thing that ever had or would happen to her. Later on, when she was rejected by her love, she couldn’t handle the grief. She fell to her knees and begged for the love of her Prince Charming. Despite her efforts, he still left her. She did no longer see any meaning of her life and decided to end it by ingesting poison.
Sibyl fell in love at first sight and it was the same thing for Dorian, when he saw her on the stage for the first time. His love was head over heels. He just couldn’t stop talking about her and after knowing her for only three weeks, he proposed. It first seemed like a perfect example of two young and inexperienced youths falling in love, but at a closer look, it’s reveled that Dorian didn’t fall in love with the person Sibyl but with her talents as an actress. Most often when he talked about her, he described the women he saw on the stage. How she skillfully portrayed all the heroines of the theatre like e.g. Juliet, Rosalind and Portia. This is also shown in the way Dorian stops loving Sibyl; “’Yes’ he cried, ‘you have killed my love. You used to stir my imagination. Now you don’t even stir my curiosity. You simply produce no effect.” He was disappointed of her after a bad performance and had lost his wonder for her. Dorian wasn’t able to see, or more likely didn’t care, that the reason for her bad acting was because her strong love for him. She felt that, now when she had felt real love, she no longer could pretend on the stage. So basically, Dorian stopped loving Sibyl when she showed her true self on the stage and it wasn’t her as a person he wanted to see but her ability to portray all the different characters.
Dorian’s reaction was an example of the influences he had received from his friend Lord Henry Wotton’s philosophies; in this case his view of women as “a decorative sex.” Sibyl fulfilled this role well as her personality was quite dull and she was most appreciated for her “decorative” talents on the stage. When the most “decorative” about Sibyl had been destroyed, Dorian no longer found any interest in her; she was of no use to him or his pleasure. When Dorian then found out that Sibyl had died, Lord Henry once again used his power to convince Dorian to see her death as "a wonderful ending to a wonderful play." Lord Henry “guided” Dorian to see the pleasure and art in her death. As a great and interesting experience where there was no guilt needed as it was an act of love. Dorian had earlier been given his portrait, painted by his friend Basil Hallward. After Dorian had left Sibyl, the portrait started changing for the first time, showing a crueler version of him. From this point on, Dorian consoled himself by thinking that since the portrait displayed his true character, it must "bear the burden of his shame," thus leaving him to enjoy a guilt-free life.
Sybil, as the only woman who had any real impact on Dorian’s life, played a far greater role than what it might have seemed when reading about her and their short and tragical relationship. Since Dorian was not very upset about her death, it can be perceived that Sibyl wasn’t so important to him after all. When reaching further in to the book, the reader realizes the real impact Sibyl had on Dorian’s life. The reason for his lack of feelings and compassion was not because the situation wasn’t emotional enough, but because the character of Dorian Gray had begun to change to the worse. It became his final turning point where he for the last time left his consciences and began living completely after Lord Henry’s philosophies where his own pleasure in life was prioritized. An important point is that although Lord Henry talked very proudly and convincing about his philosophies, he himself didn’t dare to completely live by them. Dorian did, and as a result he became the cruel person in the portrait.
Before meeting Sibyl Vane, Dorian saw himself as a totally innocent and pure man. The problem was that he continued to do so even after the horrible crime he caused her. When she committed suicide, Dorian distanced himself from the blame by viewing her death as a work of art—a sort of tragic drama. Sibyl became his first real tragical experience, and he treated it by refusing to take responsibility. He justified his actions according to Lord Henry’s philosophies and by letting the painting bear the burden. As a result, Dorian had his turning point and his character began changing to the worse. He left his conscience and lived entirely for his art and pleasures in life. He wasn’t able to hold himself responsible, not even for destroying the one truly innocent person, and he never would be. Sibyl Vane became the beginning of Dorian’s dark journey towards his fall. Sibyl Vane became the beginning of the end for Dorian Gray.
Alice Engström
Before Sibyl meet Dorian, she lived with her mother and brother in one of the poorer areas of London. Sibyl, and also her mother, performed at a theatre to pay back their debts to the Jew Mr. Isaacs, who had helped them with their economic problems. Sibyl was very beautiful and an amazingly talented actress. She was also totally innocent and inexperienced, isolated from the world by the theatre. She said; “my only experience up to this point is a kind of sheltered half-life on the stage.” This also resulted in a lack of cynicism, so when she for the first time experienced real emotions, they completely overwhelmed her. When she met her Prince Charming - Dorian Gray, she felt like it was the best thing that ever had or would happen to her. Later on, when she was rejected by her love, she couldn’t handle the grief. She fell to her knees and begged for the love of her Prince Charming. Despite her efforts, he still left her. She did no longer see any meaning of her life and decided to end it by ingesting poison.
Sibyl fell in love at first sight and it was the same thing for Dorian, when he saw her on the stage for the first time. His love was head over heels. He just couldn’t stop talking about her and after knowing her for only three weeks, he proposed. It first seemed like a perfect example of two young and inexperienced youths falling in love, but at a closer look, it’s reveled that Dorian didn’t fall in love with the person Sibyl but with her talents as an actress. Most often when he talked about her, he described the women he saw on the stage. How she skillfully portrayed all the heroines of the theatre like e.g. Juliet, Rosalind and Portia. This is also shown in the way Dorian stops loving Sibyl; “’Yes’ he cried, ‘you have killed my love. You used to stir my imagination. Now you don’t even stir my curiosity. You simply produce no effect.” He was disappointed of her after a bad performance and had lost his wonder for her. Dorian wasn’t able to see, or more likely didn’t care, that the reason for her bad acting was because her strong love for him. She felt that, now when she had felt real love, she no longer could pretend on the stage. So basically, Dorian stopped loving Sibyl when she showed her true self on the stage and it wasn’t her as a person he wanted to see but her ability to portray all the different characters.
Dorian’s reaction was an example of the influences he had received from his friend Lord Henry Wotton’s philosophies; in this case his view of women as “a decorative sex.” Sibyl fulfilled this role well as her personality was quite dull and she was most appreciated for her “decorative” talents on the stage. When the most “decorative” about Sibyl had been destroyed, Dorian no longer found any interest in her; she was of no use to him or his pleasure. When Dorian then found out that Sibyl had died, Lord Henry once again used his power to convince Dorian to see her death as "a wonderful ending to a wonderful play." Lord Henry “guided” Dorian to see the pleasure and art in her death. As a great and interesting experience where there was no guilt needed as it was an act of love. Dorian had earlier been given his portrait, painted by his friend Basil Hallward. After Dorian had left Sibyl, the portrait started changing for the first time, showing a crueler version of him. From this point on, Dorian consoled himself by thinking that since the portrait displayed his true character, it must "bear the burden of his shame," thus leaving him to enjoy a guilt-free life.
Sybil, as the only woman who had any real impact on Dorian’s life, played a far greater role than what it might have seemed when reading about her and their short and tragical relationship. Since Dorian was not very upset about her death, it can be perceived that Sibyl wasn’t so important to him after all. When reaching further in to the book, the reader realizes the real impact Sibyl had on Dorian’s life. The reason for his lack of feelings and compassion was not because the situation wasn’t emotional enough, but because the character of Dorian Gray had begun to change to the worse. It became his final turning point where he for the last time left his consciences and began living completely after Lord Henry’s philosophies where his own pleasure in life was prioritized. An important point is that although Lord Henry talked very proudly and convincing about his philosophies, he himself didn’t dare to completely live by them. Dorian did, and as a result he became the cruel person in the portrait.
Before meeting Sibyl Vane, Dorian saw himself as a totally innocent and pure man. The problem was that he continued to do so even after the horrible crime he caused her. When she committed suicide, Dorian distanced himself from the blame by viewing her death as a work of art—a sort of tragic drama. Sibyl became his first real tragical experience, and he treated it by refusing to take responsibility. He justified his actions according to Lord Henry’s philosophies and by letting the painting bear the burden. As a result, Dorian had his turning point and his character began changing to the worse. He left his conscience and lived entirely for his art and pleasures in life. He wasn’t able to hold himself responsible, not even for destroying the one truly innocent person, and he never would be. Sibyl Vane became the beginning of Dorian’s dark journey towards his fall. Sibyl Vane became the beginning of the end for Dorian Gray.
Alice Engström