Lord Henry Wotton is a self indulgent character who, with his eloquence and status, creates a deceiving image of sophistication. Henry's role in the story is the most detrimental to Dorian's fate because he is the first to introduce Dorian to the hedonistic lifestyle and later unwilling to help him recover his righteousness.
Henry is the first character to cause Dorian to be concerned for the mortality of his beauty, "When your youth goes, your beauty will go with it, and then you will suddenly discover that there are no triumphs left for you" (164).
Henry, on several occasions, completely alters Dorian's opinion using adages that don't seem to have little validity. Dorian is initially very enthusiastic at the notion of marrying Sybil Vane, but one conversation with Henry seems to convince him otherwise. "Never marry at all Dorian. Men marry because they are bored; women because they are curious: both are disappointed" (191).
When Henry returns later in the story as an older man, he has lost much of the finesse that made him notable. His lack of investment and understanding in what he has done to Dorian emphasize the degree to which his advice should not be taken.
Basil introduces Dorian to his vanity and is the artist who painted the portrait, but his guilt is redeemed when he acts as a conscience for Dorian even though he refuses. This is evident in the scenes in which Basil learns of Sybil's suicide and when he is reunited with the painting in its grotesque form. "Dorian, this is horrible! Something has changed you completely" (261).
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