Dorian Gray and Company

Oscar Wild is kind to the reader in A Picture of Dorian Gray, and introduces a mere three main characters. Each is quite unique, and very different form the next. 

Basil Hallward:
Basil Hallward is a painter, who is completely devoted to his work. He disappeared around three years ago, but it is not explained why or how. Just that his return caused "a public excitement". Hallward uses Dorian Gray as his muse, and, consequently, creates the best work of his life. However, he doesn't not share it with the world because he believes it shows too much of himself.
I would have to say my feelings towards Basil are pretty neutral. He has yet to exhibit any personality traits that make me greatly like, or dislike him. I feel like I need to read more of the book to really develop an opinion on him. I definitely know he will continue to be a pivotal character in this novel. 

Lord Henry Wotton (aka Harry):
Better known (at least in my mind) as "Basil's Friend", Lord Henry Wotton is a frequent visitor to Basil Hallward's studio. He is very outgoing and talkative, and is quite willing to share his opinion on anything. Basil describes him as a "very bad influence on his friends".  Lord Henry Wotton seems like a man who always gets his way.
I'm currently not a fan of Lord Henry. Maybe it's because he's arrogant, or maybe its just because any time he speaks I have to reread the section multiple times to fully understand what is going on.  For example, here is a part of one of his rants:
"..the mutilation of the savage has its tragic survival in the self-denial that mars our lives. We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us. The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. " (pg. 13)
That is only a fraction of the passage. 
I have a feeling that Lord Henry Wotton is going end end up being the main antagonist in the story, which means that Dorian Gray will sell his soul to him in exchange for enteral youth... but that has not been clarified yet. 

~of course~

Dorian Gray:
Dorian Gray is a young, attractive, seemingly perfect man.
His mother was equally as beautiful, which caused quite a ruckus when she decided to run away with a penniless man. Their marriage was cut short when Dorian's father was murdered. Nearly a year later his mother died, leaving Dorian alone. He grew up with a loveless man, Lord Kelso, which shaped him into the impressionable and needy character he is today. 
Dorian seem quite impressionable, and for that reason Basil warns Lord Henry not to pay him too many compliments. Within the first five chapters it is evident that Dorian has picked up on many of Lord Henry's traits. 
It is also in the first five chapters that Dorian starts to obsess over his youth. He says:"How sad it is! That I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June... If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that grow old! For that - for that - I would give everything... I would give my soul for that!" (pg. 19)
This is clear foreshadowing. It is very obvious that that Dorian will do exactly what he says in that quote. 
Although I feel like I shouldn't like Dorian Gray, I can't help but be intrigued by his character. Any passage involving him makes me more curious about how he is going to develop. 

There is one more seemingly important character introduced by the name of Sibyl Vane, however I do not believe she is a main character. Although in this first section of reading, her role is a short one, it is clear that she will be important in the future. 


Sibyl Vane:
She is only introduced in the last couple of pages of chapter four, but it is clear that Sibyl is going to play a large role on Dorian's development. She seems like the female version of Dorian, meaning she is described as quite attractive. She is also portrayed to be in a slave-like situation, where she must work as an actress for a man for three years. As a result I'm guessing she is quite poor. Dorian becomes infatuated with her, after watching her act in Romeo and Juliet. At the end of chapter five it is revealed that her and Dorian are engaged. 
They're engagement does not seem based on mutual love, because Dorian feels "in love" with her while watching her act. Each night she pretends to someone else, so he never really meets the real Sibyl. I doubt this marriage will last. 
I honestly don't have enough information of Sibyl to develop a opinion on her, but from what I've learned so far, I think I'll like her. 

After finishing my first section of reading I found myself very relieved. It was not that I did not enjoy the first five chapters, I was just grateful that there was not going to be a crazy web of characters to keep track of (s/o to Song of Solomon).