#then just never mention henry wotton

[thebitchbehindtheslaughter]

My favourite thing about doing independent reading is, after handing in an assignment, imagining my teacher sorting through a pile of graphic novels and romance stories then just seeing “I HATE HENRY WOTTON AND I WANT HIM DEAD” 

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

10 things Henry Wotton does that scare and confuse me

Does not engage with Dorian’s antisemitism

To paraphrase MandaloreGaming, “[Henry] not being [antisemitic and/or] racist feels almost like a plot hole.”

In fact, Henry is the only one to treat Sybil’s manager like a human being.

“Lord Henry, upon the other hand, rather liked him. At least he declared he did, and insisted on shaking him by the hand and assuring him that he was proud to meet a man who had discovered a real genius and gone bankrupt over a poet.”

This isn’t even him being mocking, we have seen that Henry doesn’t mock in such an involved way—he prefers to talk shit afterwards (not counting Basil :( ).

Says a ton of misogynistic shit, but never takes a misogynistic action

You would expect a guy as supposedly misogynistic as Henry to be offended and insult every woman who argues against him, but he just talks with them and genuinely takes them seriously. He tries to convince them of his ideas, but if they don’t believe him, he doesn’t push it.

Implied to have close relationships with sister and his aunt.

Gwendolyn is the only sibling that is named and that is because she is the only one he makes a point to hang out with.

Same with Aunt Agatha.

Is possibly implied to have gotten at least a bit annoyed with Dorian sleeping with Gwendolyn (his sister). *this is based off the way Dorian reacts after Basil brings it up. Considering that entire moment was added in the 1891 ver, it’s certainly interesting, but nothing definitive, so take this with a grain of salt!

Has a decent relationship with his wife

Based on the fact Victoria was able to divorce him at all, he respected her enough to not put up a legal fight (divorce in England was difficult as fuck because women essentially became property to their husbands. They didn’t own anything and couldn’t even bring up a case without a man doing so. The fact Victoria was able to do so and the fact no other family members are mentioned, implies he brought the case to court for her, thus making the divorce process much easier than it ever would have been)

Always involves the women who enter discussions with him. 

He never once objects to them out nor insults them or makes them feel inferior or otherwise unwelcome. Constantly, he cheekily, but genuinely, suggests that the women he speaks with should have their own ‘fun’ regardless of the scandal involved. Recall that Victorian society characterized women as only valuable as wives and less than human. Henry is actively inviting women to be just as bad as men, thus seeing them at the same level as men. 

More so, in chapter 17, his banter with the duchess is not done so mockingly. Like his early conversations with Basil, Henry entertains and elaborates on her ideas, never once dismissing her. Even when he points out things she’s gotten wrong in his perspective, he does so playfully, which we actually haven’t seen him do with anyone except for Basil.

The entire scene with the Duchess of Monmouth in chapter 18. 

Henry is strangely gentle and compassionate with her in a way we have never seen him be with anyone (even Dorian!). He is genuine with her in a way that is comforting, he compliments her, makes her laugh, and, weirdly, warns her not to enter a scandal.

Owns a parrot.

Is pretty accurate on the importance of youth in society

Ever since the 1960s, youth culture has absolutely dominated social norms

The concept of teenagers and childhood were created because companies realized they could sell shit to you.

Is constantly criticizing marriage because of how it limits relationships between the men and women involved. 

This is novel because marriage was an expectation of Victorian Society, especially for someone in Henry’s class. The fact he actively despises it and recommends against it would be one of the many many things that would paint him as amoral to everyone else.

“the one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.”

“there are other and more interesting bonds between men and women. I will certainly encourage them.”

 Disclaimer: this is headcanon: Would probably say, “I’m going to live forever” and immediately get hit by a bus.

I don’t have evidence for this, it just feels right.

Bibliography because I reference historical shit and hbomberguy has reawakened the fear of accidentally plagiarizing i have had since i was six (but i am not doing this in some college style, because ewww)

MandaloreGaming: Anonymous Agony: An Extra Edgy Adventure Game

Shanspeare: Life Doesn’t End in Your 20s: The Myth of the Teenage Dream (for the childhood part)

Mary Lyndon Shanley: Feminism, Marriage, and the Law in Victorian England, 1850-1895 (for the divorce part)

[klqrambles]

13 for henry wotton maybe???

Ooohohohohohohoho

Not exactly the drunk confession you’d expect i think >:3c

(Cw: death mention)

Basil sighed as he dragged a drunk and giggling Henry Wotton toward their shared university dormitory. It was a constant struggle to keep his wandering hands in publicly appropriate places and keep the (affectionately nicknamed) lordling from kissing him. At the constant denial Henry whined with dissatisfaction, leaning closer than was likely advisable, especially in his drunken state.

Eventually they were able to make it, at which point Basil deposited Henry upon his respective bed. Henry grasped at his coat and dragged Basil down with a delighted giggle from him and an offended yelp from his victim.

“Harry,” Basil wriggled half heartedly in his grip, “I know you often espouse about decadence and living to your limits, but really! You should know your own limits on alcohol by now.”

Henry chuckled, tightening his grip and nuzzling into Basil, “oh I know, dearest Basil. But it seems that alcohol is the only thing that allows me to be this close to you! So I indulge.”

Basil scoffed, “you insist on hugging and kissing me every morning, I don’t see how this is any closer than that.”

He shook his head and patted Basil’s chest, “I mean here, my dear.”

Basil stilled, confused. Slowly, he turned himself around in Henry’s arms until they were face to face. His expression was that of alcohol-fueled happiness, but something about his gaze made Basil concerned.

“What do you mean, Henry?”

Henry giggled, interrupted by a soft hiccup, “ooh, so stern! And scary!”

He kissed him and Basil let him before breaking it off.

“I’m serious, Harry. What do you mean?”

Henry glanced at him again, expression unreadable. Then he sighed, fiddling with a bit of Basil’s hair.

“You feel, Basil. You feel so much, you indulge in such emotion and allow it to engulf you. Flow through you and onto the canvas of your art. Such beauty you create out of such mundanity. And emotions are so mundane are they not?

And yet, it seems that… something about mine are… it is rather difficult to describe. I have felt joy, I have felt distress, I have felt love, even. And yet it feels as though… I am lacking in a few.”

“Lacking?”

“When Oliver died, I remember you were so distraught. You couldn’t seem to stop crying and when you did it would not be long before you started once again.”

“I did. I remember.”

“Do you know what I was thinking?”

“No.”

“I found myself thinking about what an inconvenience it would be to have to greet all the mourners that came by.” Henry clutched Basil close to him again, “can you believe it? My younger brother had died. We were at his funeral. And all I could think about is how inconvenient it all was. How callous!”

Basil frowned before wrapping an arm around Henry, “it is not callous to handle grief differently, Henry.”

Henry smiled at him, “how kind, my dearest Basil. But I can assure you that it was not grief that I felt. Rather, it was nothing that I felt. I know I loved and cared for my brother and yet when he passed nothing in particular changed for me. One day, a few weeks after, I drank far too much than was likely prudent, even more than I had today! My recollection of that night is pretty hazy at best.”

Basil sighed, remembering that night. He never figured out where Henry had gotten the alcohol, but he’d nearly smashed his window trying to get his attention. Henry giggled and shushed Basil with a finger.

“Did you know what I did? I cried! I didn’t exactly know why I was crying, nor do I really understand now, but I cried. With some alcohol in me it really seemed as though I could feel! Or perhaps I was letting go of what little I could feel. I don’t know. Emotions are mundane, but occasionally mundanity is difficult it seems. But for a short while it felt like I was like you. And for a short while now I feel like I’m like you! No more cold unfeeling lordling Wotton. Just the most wonderful Basil Hallward.”

Basil found himself unsure of what to say in response. Henry rarely if ever talked about himself in such a genuine manner and Basil didn’t want what he said to ruin it.

“But,” Henry interrupted his thoughts and placed a hand on Basil’s head, patting it in a drunk yet condescending manner, “don’t worry your little head about something such as this.”

“I won’t worry.”

“You always worry.”

At that, Henry curled up into Basil and shut his eyes slowly drifting off into a drunken sleep. Basil watched his breathing even out before speaking.

“Don’t try to be me, Harry. Just try to be yourself.”

[yallemagne]

Honestly thank you for that anon for mentioning Wotton because you know that fucking bitch would try to sour up Sibyl and Lucy's happiness whenever he encounters because (insert here sexist bullshit about female friendships), unluckily for him Lucy and Sibyl are moisturized, happy, thriving, frolicking, hot victorian girl summer vibes, and many more things that only make him look like a fool to anyone who watches him talk to two young girls eating pastries.

Wotton sees Lucy and Sibyl having a nice time eating pastries and chatting and decides to move closer so he is within hearing range of them.

Feeling smug, he clears his throat and begins: "Female friendships are one of the most shallow types of relationships, possibly more impersonal and meaningless than a gentleman's relationship with a whore. They giggle and titter over the men in their lives for hours on end, and if they find that it is the same man they are fawning over, they will have each others' heads. Truly a fickle thing: a connection based entirely around someone never present. But it's no wonder women can't find anything better to talk about than men. What else are they to speak of? Themselves? There's nothing to say."

The man he's saddled up next to looks at him, confused, just trying to eat his sandwich.

Sibyl hears this tirade and starts to curl in on herself, but Lucy lays a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay. I will handle this." She turns to the unsubtle man and calls him over, much to Sibyl's chagrin. "Lord Henry! What a surprise to see you here!"

Wotton approaches, holding out a hand to accept Lucy's own and press a kiss to it. "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Godalming."

She does not offer her hand and instead smiles up at him ingratiatingly. "I did not say it was a pleasure, sir."

Wotton's eyes flash, but he does not let his expression fall.

"What are you doing here this lovely afternoon, Lord Henry? You're positively bringing down the mood of the entire pastry shop!"

"Well, that--"

"Is it your wife Victoria? Oh, do tell me how she's doing! Have you come here to purchase for her a strawberry tart?"

"How romantic!" Sibyl cries, catching on. "It's very kind of you to be so thoughtful for your dear wife! I haven't met her, but I am sure she's the loveliest woman! And a lucky woman to have so thoughtful a husband!" She's loud enough that the other patrons have turned to look at the group, eyes settling expectantly upon the young lord especially.

At a loss for words, Wotton answers the young women's expectations: "Yes. Of course, I am."

Lucy wrinkles her nose. "Well, you shouldn't. You should know Victoria much prefers raspberry tarts. Something with a bit more bite to it."

Not wanting to lose, Wotton does buy a raspberry tart, his eye twitching as he realizes the price is just slightly higher than that of the strawberry tart.

"They must not be in season," Sibyl surmises.

"But I'm sure your beloved will appreciate the gesture even moreso!" Lucy says with a simper.

Wotton leaves in a huff, and when he returns home and presents his wife Victoria with the pastry, she smiles at him, taking the tiniest bites of the tart and savouring the displeased expression on her husband's face.

[faggotwalkwithme]

HENRY WOTTON? STUPID IDIOT MOTHERFUCKING HENRY WOTTON GOD DAMN FOOL IDIOT IDEA COLLECTING DUST EATING RAT OLD BASTARD SHITHEAD IDIOT AVATAR OF THE WHORE BIGGEST CLOWN IN THE CIRCUS LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN COWBOY MOTHERFUCKING HENRY WOTTON

STOP PINNING ME WHEN I TALK ABOUT HENRY WOTTON I HATE HIM SO MUCH WHY DOES HE HAVE SO MANY FUCKED UP OPINIONS WHY DID HE DECIDE TO FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST SET THEM LOOSE IS HE DEAD IS HE A BASTARD MAN HAS SUCH A VISCERAL AFFECT ON ME NOT EVEN IN THE ROOM NEVER SEEN THIS MANS FACE AND I KNOW HE HAS THE WORLDS SHITTIEST BEARD GET AWAY FROM ME

if i wanted to get into heaven and god said henry wotton is waiting inside i would piss on gods feet for the sole purpose of getting sent back down

if i have to deal with henry wotton speaking one word in book on paper not only will i close the book i will lose my place in it out of spite and have to reread the entire thing again for the experience of being able to skip all the times when he is mentioned or alive

i dont even know why i hate him so much. he is awful but i am just mad because i am angy

he better have some fucked up backstory to explain this if hes just some rich shithead whos a fan of exploitation and wanted more version ill go ham

BETTER have had a painting make him kill a man cuz if he didnt Im going to make him

paypal.com/IFuckingHateHenryWotton

chapters not even about him. vaguely mentioned what is supposed to maybe be his dumb jewles and I lost it

where the fuck is henry wotton if hes still alive im going to so deeply wish he wasnt

crusty old man

ill punch wotton and his sad frail old man twig bones will simply flake apart under my epic huge meat fist and he will disintegrate until all thats left is one final book he kept on him at all times simply titled Now You Fucked Up in ancient yiddish

im not breathing im hypervenlattiing at this point

i hope theres a date given for when wotton died or will die so i can make it a reminder on my phone. everyday once a year i will see it and do anything but pay respects to the man who had so many fucked up if untrue opinions

i love you

[interview-with-the-vlfote]

HENRY WOTTON? STUPID IDIOT MOTHERFUCKING HENRY WOTTON GOD DAMN FOOL IDIOT IDEA COLLECTING DUST EATING RAT OLD BASTARD SHITHEAD IDIOT AVATAR OF THE WHORE BIGGEST CLOWN IN THE CIRCUS LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN COWBOY MOTHERFUCKING HENRY WOTTON

STOP PINNING ME WHEN I TALK ABOUT HENRY WOTTON I HATE HIM SO MUCH WHY DOES HE HAVE SO MANY FUCKED UP OPINIONS WHY DID HE DECIDE TO FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST SET THEM LOOSE IS HE DEAD IS HE A BASTARD MAN HAS SUCH A VISCERAL AFFECT ON ME NOT EVEN IN THE ROOM NEVER SEEN THIS MANS FACE AND I KNOW HE HAS THE WORLDS SHITTIEST BEARD GET AWAY FROM ME

if i wanted to get into heaven and god said henry wotton is waiting inside i would piss on gods feet for the sole purpose of getting sent back down

if i have to deal with henry wotton speaking one word in book on paper not only will i close the book i will lose my place in it out of spite and have to reread the entire thing again for the experience of being able to skip all the times when he is mentioned or alive

i dont even know why i hate him so much. he is awful but i am just mad because i am angy

he better have some fucked up backstory to explain this if hes just some rich shithead whos a fan of exploitation and wanted more version ill go ham

BETTER have had a painting make him kill a man cuz if he didnt Im going to make him

paypal.com/IFuckingHateHenryWotton

chapters not even about him. vaguely mentioned what is supposed to maybe be his dumb jewles and I lost it

where the fuck is henry wotton if hes still alive im going to so deeply wish he wasnt

crusty old man

ill punch wotton and his sad frail old man twig bones will simply flake apart under my epic huge meat fist and he will disintegrate until all thats left is one final book he kept on him at all times simply titled Now You Fucked Up in ancient yiddish

im not breathing im hypervenlattiing at this point

i hope theres a date given for when wotton died or will die so i can make it a reminder on my phone. everyday once a year i will see it and do anything but pay respects to the man who had so many fucked up if untrue opinions

NSBAKSHAJSHSJ so true^^^^^

[starfxckersinc]

DOING THE HARD WORK OF MAKING EVERYONE IN DORIAN GRAY LOOK LIKE A DICK EXCEPTING, WITH LIMITS, DORIAN GRAY

okay so I’ve read The Picture Of Dorian Gray three times and I plan to again after I finish a few more novels, so I consider myself knowledgeable enough both about the book AND about the fandom surrounding it to make this post. This has been kicking around in my head for YEARS, especially after getting into Velvet Goldmine and noting how that fandom treats Brian Slade, who’s basically a modern interpretation of the same character. I know a lot of people are jonesing for me to rag on Basil Hallward and I plan to, so fair warning to those of you who i know are obsessed with him.

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To start, a lot of people see Lord Henry as the only discernible “Villain” in the book(though the book really has no villain) and Basil as the put upon good guy. This description is somewhat fair. Lord Henry contributes a lot of Dorian’s toxic ideas and enables a LOT of his most self centered behavior, not to mention he gives him the book that inspires his worst deeds. He’s the person who makes it clear to him that youth, self gratification, and most importantly, beauty are all that matter in life. Basil, on the other hand, does his best to “counter” these ideas, though I personally would say his idea of countering amounts to nothing but passive aggressive, low energy disdain. Dorian is too wrapped up in Lord Henry to listen to reason, and eventually murders Basil in cold blood, allowing him to achieve a sort of tragic book character aura that makes him sympathetic.

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To put it simply, the general attitude towards these character dynamics is that Lord Henry is the Bad, Basil is the Good, and Dorian could’ve been good if Lord Henry would’ve let him be. I find this interpretation very surface level despite the relatability of Basil Hallward’s homosexual yearning and romantic struggles.

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But before we dissect Basil, let’s dissect his counterpart. Lord Henry, to start, is immediatley established as a vain and flippant dandy(which is true) because of his belief that beauty is the most valuable trait a person can possess. This is the first lesson that he gives Dorian: that his beauty is his power, that his youth is fleeting, and that life will be worthless once he’s lost the ability to appeal physically to others. However, while he is the first to say it frankly enough for Dorian to consciously understand it, he is NOT the first to communicate that to him. He is just one in a long line of many, as is Basil himself.

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Funnily enough, I would argue that of all the adult figures in Dorian’s life, Lord Henry is the MOST supportive of Dorian’s actual person, and I think it’s entirely natural that he became as attached to him as he did and may have less to do with Henry’s good looks and manipulation than we think. Nobody in his immediate circle of friends or family allows him to explore himself or form an opinion about the world that differs from their own- Except for Henry. It’s merely Dorian’s misfortune that the first person he meets who allows him to be a human being is a conceited asshole, but it follows the theme of Dorian’s life, which is that he is the avatar for older and more cowardly men. And in Lord Henry’s eyes, Dorian’s poetential is limitless. He’s happy to give him ideas and let him run wild, but can’t accept the responsibility of teaching him kindness or compassion or self-preservation, because that would make the spectacle less interesting. Lord Henry is using a 19-to-20 year old to live out his fantasy of what he wishes he could do- But he’s not really different from Basil in that respect.

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And now it is time.

Basil Hallward reminds me a lot of myself, so I feel like I understand his motivations. He’s a shy, earnest, secretive artist who doesn’t care much for anything besides doing his work and yearning while looking out over his garden. He’s upset by people like Lord Henry, who are the embodiment of the poet who lives what he cannot write, because he is the opposite: He creates, and therefore doesn’t have to live out, his fantasy worlds. Basil is repressed and mild mannered while Henry, to his intense jealousy, is more attractive, vivacious, and conversationally interesting- Which is most likely why he didn’t want to share him with Dorian, instead of the reason he gave, which was that Dorian’s pure personality would be tarnished. It’s quite obvious Basil has a crush. But I don’t believe he ever loved, or even truly cared for, Dorian himself.

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Allow me to explain: I have a whole blog of random pictures, mainly of other people, that I keep because I find those pictures striking in some sense. I don’t have an aesthetic theme, really: It’s just people who make me feel, or think, or see something a certain way. I have a pregnant wax figurine in there and old pictures of Marilyn Monroe- And I find both creatively interesting because of how they appear to me. What I’m getting at is I think Dorian Gray is to Basil what an art blog is to the average tumblr user. As David Bowie once said, there’s a difference between being in love and going on to love someone; And there is a difference between being fascinated with your muse and actually caring about the person beyond the projection.

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I think it’s extremely telling that before painting his portrait, Basil had an entire notebook dedicated to portraying Dorian as various mythical figures and heroes. I think it’s even more telling that when Basil DOES paint his portrait, he’s ashamed of it because it is a portrait of HIS soul, an admittance of his worship and idolatry. Dorian REPRESENTS something to Basil, and it’s fun to speculate on what: I believe he is the poster boy for all of Basil’s sexual and romantic fantasies, which he obviously finds shameful, woven together with the romantic escapism found in mythology. But it’s obvious from the start that Dorian is Not the virtuous young man that he wants him to be, and that those virtues are simply what Hallward believes Dorian should be like, as opposed to what he actually is.

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This is depressing, but what’s worse is that Dorian is aware of it, which is what actually inspired me to write this post. When he realizes his youth is fleeting, he accuses Basil of the truth, in a heartbreaking scene featuring this quote,

“Dorian Gray turned and looked at him. ‘I believe you would, Basil. You like your art better than your friends. I am no more to you than a green bronze figure. Hardly as much, I dare say.’ The painter stared in amazement. ‘Yes,’ He continued, I am less to you than your ivory Hermès or your silver Faun. You will like them always. How long will you like me? Till I have my first wrinkle, I suppose. I know, now, that when someone loses one’s good looks, whatever they may be, one loses everything. Your picture has taught me that. Lord Henry Wotton is perfectly right. Youth is the only thing worth having. When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself.’

Hallward turned pale, and caught his hand. ‘Dorian! Dorian!’ he cried, ‘don’t talk like that. I never had such a friend as you, and I shall never have such another. You are not jealous of material things, are you- you who are finer than all of them!”

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Lord Henry and Basil are nowhere near on the same moral level, but what’s tragic is that they, and everyone else, treat Dorian the same way- As their vicarious vessel. It’s just that Basil’s idea of what Dorian should be is A) Literal sainthood(as evidenced by the above quote), and B) Impossible to live up to, so therefore he seems to be the nicer guy. But it’s cruel to value anyone for what you can get from them, even if that thing is great art.

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In my opinion, the adult figures in Dorian’s life couldn’t give less of a shit about his true nature. His grandfather hated him and wanted nothing to do with him. Lord Henry is interested in seeing how far Dorian would go to do the things he can’t do because of his own cowardice. Basil expects him to be a storybook character, as do most people who came into contact with him. He was right to believe that his looks were the only thing anybody wanted from him because it’s the truth.

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To close, my personal interpretation of Dorian Gray is this: Dorian Gray was a neglected, naive child who became the fancy of two older men, both of whom were only concerned with using him as a fantasy and therefore both corrupted him for their own personal gain. This in no way excuses his actions, but I think it better explains them- And I think it condemns the people who ought to be condemned. Lord Henry was the person who played on his lack of self-worth to manipulate him, but Basil was the person who exacerbated that lack of self-worth in the first place. Basil wasn’t a good mentor(and DID NOT deserve to be his boyfriend). Henry wasn’t a good mentor. There was no good mentor- There was only Dorian, and the simple fact that people weren’t going to love him if he stopped being pretty. The person he became afterwards was someone of his own making- But the initially shy, praise-hungry, warped young boy who felt the need to become that person was both Basil and Henry’s creation.