Quotation: “All influence is immoral… Because to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul” (58)

Comment: I chose this quote because as the novel progresses we see that Harry truly is the worst influence on Dorian. Even Basil notices that he started out as a sensitive boy very in tune with other people’s emotions, but has become callous and self absorbed. I find it interesting that Harry views being an influence as the living of one’s soul but happily continues to coach and sway Dorian on seemingly unimportant manners.

Question: What is the point of Harry influencing Dorian? Is he obsessed with him and want to keep him around for selfish reasons? Or is this just another one of his games that he doesn’t see as harmful even though it really is?