Self Reflection In Dorian Gray

Dorian’s portrait is a constant reminder of his failure to live life correctly, without absorbing himself in his beauty. He is aware that he cannot change the wrong he did in his past and that his preoccupation with his own indulgence has caused his deep regret and guilt. This sort of self-reflection following a mistake is a prominent theme throughout the Victorian Era. The movement of self-reflection gave individuals the opportunity to explore and express themselves freely, as well as looking into the past and being able to make judgments on actions. After reflecting deeply on his errors in his past, Dorian’s issues with self-indulgence finally erupts into his pure insanity. Dorian strives for a new life, a life in which “he would never again …show more content…
He seized the thing, and stabbed the picture with it” (Wilde 193). A moment later, Dorian Gray’s withered body is found on the floor with a knife in heart, and his portrait returns back to the original masterpiece created by Basil Hallward. In Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Tithonus”, a man finds himself in the same situation as Dorian Gray, wanting to return to the life he once lived. Tithonus is a man who desired to remain young for the rest of his life. He asks his lover, Aurora, who is also a goddess, to give him the gift of immortality. Aurora happily obliges with Tithonus’ wish, and grants him immortality. However, after Tithonus is given the ability to live, he is cursed to be old for the rest of his life. Tithonus urgently begs Aurora to take away his gift, but Aurora tells him that she is not able to do so. He reminisces on his past as a young man, and regrets his decision to live forever. While looking down on the mortals, Tithonus says, “Of happy men that have the power to die, / And grassy barrows of the happier dead. / Release me and restore me to the ground…”(“Tithonus” 69-71). Tithonus craves to be mortal again, and to die like the men who are able to die, but is forced to live his life dying internally, unable to live the …show more content…
While Basil Hallward is creating his masterpiece, the portrait of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry insists that his work should be sent out for the public eye to see his talent. Basil Hallward could not disagree with his companion any more. Hallward believes that his work is not fit to be sent out, which leaves Lord Henry flustered, saying, “‘Not send it anywhere? My dear fellow, why? Have you any reason? What odd chaps you painters are! You do anything in the world to gain a reputation” (Wilde 6). Basil claims that Henry will never understand him, and replies to Henry saying, “‘[...] I really can’t exhibit it. I have put too much of myself into it’” (Wilde 6). While arguing the reason as to why Basil refuses to send his masterpiece out in an exhibit, he makes the point that “An artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them. We live on an age when men treat art as if it were meant to be a form of autobiography” (Wilde 13). Lord Henry’s questioning on Basil’s artist views and Basil’s beliefs on how art should be created reflects on the conflict of the time period in which the purpose of art was argued heavily. A monk named Lippo Lippi in the poem “Fra Lippo Lippi” by Robert Browning raises similar questions and examines the purpose of art. As well as being a monk, Fra Lippo Lippi is also considered a renowned painter. He