Lord Henry "Harry" Wotton is a nobleman who is a friend to Basil Hallward (the artist who paints the Dorian Gray portrait) initially, but later becomes more intrigued with Dorian's beauty and naiveté. Extremely witty, Lord Henry is seen as a critique of Victorian culture at the end of the century, and espouses a view of indulgent hedonism. He tells Dorian of his world view, and Dorian becomes corrupted as he attempts to emulate Lord Henry.