Lord Henry Wotton
A witty and cynical aristocrat who corrupts Dorian Gray with his hedonistic philosophy.
Core Belief
"Lord Henry believes that the pursuit of pleasure and beauty is the ultimate goal in life, and that morality and societal conventions are meaningless."
Worldview
Lord Henry sees the world as a playground for the intelligent and wealthy, where pleasure and self-gratification are the only things that matter. He views societal norms and moral constraints as hindrances to personal fulfillment and enjoys challenging conventional thinking.
Personality
Lord Henry is a charming and intelligent cynic who enjoys manipulating others with his wit and provocative ideas. He is a proponent of aestheticism and believes that pleasure is the ultimate goal in life. He is detached and amoral, viewing people and relationships as experiments or sources of amusement.
In Their Own Words
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful."
"I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world."
"The aim of life is self-development. To realize one’s nature perfectly—that is what each of us is here for. People are afraid of themselves, nowadays. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty that one owes to one’s self."
Discussions with Lord Henry Wotton
Other Characters from The Picture of Dorian Gray
Ready to talk with Lord Henry Wotton?
Join a discussion or make Lord Henry Wotton your personal mentor for advice anytime.