In the novel of The Death of Ivan Ilyich and The Picture of Dorian Gray, both main characters landed up in a place of desolation and unhappiness through their heavy pursuit of what they thought would give them happiness. Both characters started off young with a large potential for happiness by following their own individual pursuits, but instead the route that they took ultimately lead them down a slippery slope of tragedy and melancholy. They followed a way of denial from the factors that would have snapped them back into reality, and continued to follow a rather self-centered lifestyle for many years at the cost of themselves and others. Ivan Ilyich’s death was rather slow and painful, being tormented by both his physical ailments and emotional
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The characters were very self centered and selfish for their pursuit of their individual happiness, hurting others that were around them. After Ivan’s romance with his wife began to rub away, his selfish pursuits began to become a problem to his family. Ivan started arguing with his wife more often, not caring for what she wants, and later hating just her presence near him. He thought that he had to fit into his social norms and socioeconomic class in order for him to be happy, and he willingly tried his best to do so. Since Ivan lived such an ideal life in accordance to society, it was terrible as quoted in chapter 2 “Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most …show more content…
After meeting with Lord Henry, he took his advice in leading an unrestrained hedonistic lifestyle, no matter how much sin that would be as a result. Dorian ended up in denial and fear that he would lose what he had: his youth and beauty. The influence of Lord Henry distorted Dorian’s conscious to believe that beauty is better than good, as quoted in chapter 6 about Sybil from Lord Henry “Oh, she is better than good… she is beautiful.” The painting that Basil made of him would be a symbolism of the youth and beauty that he wants to keep. However, as he begins his slippery slope reckless lifestyle for himself, his portrait becomes more grotesque and disfigured as he committed more sin. He ended up distant from the happiness that he thought he would have
The characters were very self centered and selfish for their pursuit of their individual happiness, hurting others that were around them. After Ivan’s romance with his wife began to rub away, his selfish pursuits began to become a problem to his family. Ivan started arguing with his wife more often, not caring for what she wants, and later hating just her presence near him. He thought that he had to fit into his social norms and socioeconomic class in order for him to be happy, and he willingly tried his best to do so. Since Ivan lived such an ideal life in accordance to society, it was terrible as quoted in chapter 2 “Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most …show more content…
After meeting with Lord Henry, he took his advice in leading an unrestrained hedonistic lifestyle, no matter how much sin that would be as a result. Dorian ended up in denial and fear that he would lose what he had: his youth and beauty. The influence of Lord Henry distorted Dorian’s conscious to believe that beauty is better than good, as quoted in chapter 6 about Sybil from Lord Henry “Oh, she is better than good… she is beautiful.” The painting that Basil made of him would be a symbolism of the youth and beauty that he wants to keep. However, as he begins his slippery slope reckless lifestyle for himself, his portrait becomes more grotesque and disfigured as he committed more sin. He ended up distant from the happiness that he thought he would have