Initially, Basil threatens to destroy the portrait with a knife when he realizes that the picture is causing an internal conflict within Dorian. However, Dorian stops Basil because the painting is exquisite and it would be "murder" to destroy it. The motif of the knife is seen again when Dorian murders Basil with a knife. Basil had become disgusted with Dorian after realizing what Dorian's actions and corruption had done to the portrait and Dorian's soul. Dorian became annoyed with Basil and murdered him with a knife. The next appearance of the knife motif was at the end of the novel when Dorian kills himself with a knife when he was trying to stab his conscience through the portrait
Initially, Basil threatens to destroy the portrait with a knife when he realizes that the picture is causing an internal conflict within Dorian. However, Dorian stops Basil because the painting is exquisite and it would be "murder" to destroy it. The motif of the knife is seen again when Dorian murders Basil with a knife. Basil had become disgusted with Dorian after realizing what Dorian's actions and corruption had done to the portrait and Dorian's soul. Dorian became annoyed with Basil and murdered him with a knife. The next appearance of the knife motif was at the end of the novel when Dorian kills himself with a knife when he was trying to stab his conscience through the portrait