Lord Henry Wotton’s Faustian Pact Essay, Research Paper

Lord Henry Wotton’s Faustian Pact

Liana R. Prieto (Spring 1996)

Society shapes the people living within it. The high-class British world of the 19th century holds youth and beauty above much more important qualities. Dorian Gray is neither mature nor knowledgeable of the world surrounding him when the reader first encounters him. Society, in the form of Lord Henry Wotton, tells him that he is presently at the peak of his life. Convinced he has nothing to look forward to, Dorian makes a wish he never expects to come true. It is unjust to condemn Dorian Gray alone for his accidental Faustian Pact because Lord Harry is more at fault.

Lord Harry’s attempt to influence Dorian is responsible for many of the wrong choices Dorian makes. Basil Hallward recognizes Lord Harry’s tendencies and tells him not to “spoil” his innocent Dorian: “Don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad.” Ignoring Basil’s wishes, Lord Harry utilizes his charm and paradoxical manner of speaking to overwhelm Dorian. He speaks of age as a dreadful thing that will cause Dorian to “suffer greatly.” Lord Harry knows how impressionable young Dorian is and takes full advantage. Feeling confused about his fate, he utters these words in a moment of frustration: “If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old. I would give my soul for that!”

Lord Harry is partly at fault for the way in which Dorian leads his life after the Faustian Pact. Even though Lord Harry does not sin himself, he encourages others to and touts pleasure in any form. “The soul cures the senses, and the senses cure the soul.” Lord Harry speaks this paradox to Dorian in the original garden scene. Dorian’s acceptance of this phrase as correct allows him beautiful young boy to a malevolent guilty old man within the same beautiful shell. His sins have not tarnished his outer appearance but his soul, as seen in the painting, has become grotesque. Lord Harry did not once try to stop his friend from making wrong decisions, instead he continued to push him in the direction of sin.

Lord Harry Wotton is at fault for Dorian Gray’s Faustian Pact and many of its consequences. Lord Harry knew that he could exert a powerful influence over Dorian and perhaps lead him away from his innocence. “To get back to one’s youth, one merely has to repeat one’s follies.” Harry knows how many errors are committed during youth but does nothing to discourage Dorian. Harry is responsible for the ruin of Dorian Gray’s life. Dorian’s can be blamed only for his naivety.