Picture of Dorian Gray IV: Ch. 5-6

Wilde's arrogant tone is visible to the reader when he states that "women defend themselves by attacking, just as they attack by sudden and strange surrenders" (46). In context, this is either a direct interjection from Wilde himself or the thoughts of the mother of Sibyl - either from the author or from one of the women in his story; in either case, we can take this to be Wilde's direct opinion, because it is either his statement or it is certainly true in his story. Wilde claims, therefore, to understand the female psyche when he directly declares what women are thinking when they attack or retreat. His declaratory statement on a topic that he cannot definitely understand shows how he believes himself to always know the truth - illustrative of his arrogance.