t; (11). She also said, "he was very earnest and had a beautiful nature." (11). Our theme of the power of influence on a person is foreshadowed as Basil says to Harry about Dorian, "Don't spoil him. Don't try to influence him. Your influence would be bad" (12). These few lines are further influenced as they appear near the very end of a chapter, and left us thinking about the importance or relevance of the little conversation. Dorian's innocence and purity is also emphasized by his mannerisms when Basil is getting him to sit for the portrait. Dorian behaves much as a child would, and this causes us to regard him as easily influenced as a child and as pure. For example, when Dorian asks to borrow a book from Basil, Basil reply's by saying that it depended on how he sat that day. That is not how a person would treat a young man, but perhaps how one would treat a child. This is further exemplified when Dorian retorts, "Oh, I am tired of sitting...
             ...