have a conscience, they can still be easily influenced to ignore their conscience. Dorian hears his conscience and realizes that he mistreated Sibyl. Unfortunately, he does not listen to it. Instead, he allows Lord Henry to influence him offering plenty of reasons for him to not feel guilty or sad. Lord Henry claims, "Women appreciate cruelty, downright cruelty, more than anything else. They love being dominated" (Wilde 75). This is far from the truth. Nevertheless, Dorian accepts Henry's solution in order to cure his own pain and to relieve his feelings of guilt. Dorian is weak, therefore believes the idea that Sibyl liked being hurt. To further reduce the feeling of guilt, Lord Henry persuades Dorian into believing that Sibyl, "never really lived, therefore she never really died. So don't waste your tears over Sibyl Vane" (Wilde 75). Lord Henry influences Dorian to believe that his lack of emotion is not wrong. Sadly, he is able to make Dorian lose his feelings of remorse. Lord Henry is even able to persuade Dorian to go out with him. Henry insists, "Dorian, you mustn't let this thing get on your nerves. You must come and dine with me, and afterwards we will look in at the Opera. It is a Patti night, and everybody will be there. You can come to my sister's box. She has got some smart women with her" (Wilde 72). Wilde shows the complete control Lord Henry has over Dorian by showing how Lord Henry is able to persuade Dorian that Sibyl is not worth the pain and to go out with him the following night. Oscar Wilde shows how easily an emotional or weak person can be influenced when a different person offers them a solution to happiness, regardless if it is moral or immoral.Oscar Wilde is able to show the affects of Lord Henry's influence on Dorian's conscience by illustrating how Lord Henry's influence can cause Dorian to lose all emotion despite what his conscience is telling him to feel: remorse. He asks Lord Henry, "wh...
