The Mystery of Life
In life, many of us are searching. There is this notion that we are born unfulfilled, and we need something to quench our desires. Some go looking for satisfaction in material pleasures such as money and lavish items, others seek it in pursuing knowledge and sharpening their intellecuts, while others rely on their good looks and vanity to get them by. All these things and many more are forms to obtain temporary satisfaction or pleasure. Yet, true fulfillment comes from happiness, and if you are constantly searching for something to fill that void, then clearly you will never truly be satisfied by these mundane things. However, for many they are unable to attain this true fulfillment and are constantly trying to unravel …show more content…
In the beginning, Dorian Gray seems to be a somewhat aloof character, who is unaware of his beautiful looks and simply living his youthful and naive life. Lord Henry even goes as far to describe him as a young Adonis, with a rugged strong face and coal-black hair, whose personality is likened to Narcissus. Nevertheless, when this whisper of influence from Lord Henry is introduced to him, Dorian recognizes the emptiness in his life. The cunning manipulation of Lord Henry starts of by highlighting to Dorian, “all influence is immoral -- because to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul, he becomes an echo of someone else.” This quotation not only starts Dorian on his downward spiral but is foreshadowing for the actions that will transpire in the novel. From that stage on, Dorian moves from his childlike innocence to recognizing the world around him. Lord Henry further preys on his innocence by telling him, “you have the most marvellous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having and when your youth goes, your beauty goes with it”. This initial thoughts are what spark Dorian’s longing to keep his beauty not only to ensure his youth, but he is also starting to believe that his looks are the form to lifelong …show more content…
This notion mixed with Lord Henry’s influence is what make Dorian exclaim, “How said it is! I shall grow old, and terrible and dreadful but this picture will remain always young. If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that I would give my soul!”
This initial scene is what sets the stage for Dorian’s constant search for more in life. This is both a by-product of Lord Henry’s manipulation and the casual hedonistic society he has surround himself in. From this point on, this is the mystery Dorian Gray is to unravel. Not only the mystery of the painting but also of life. The people around him see to have it all: money, good looks and status yet they are unhappy. Dorian seems a sliver of happiness with Sibyl Vane, however, he throws it all way when he realizes that is all based on an allusion. He does not love her for who she truly is but for the act that she puts up and the characters she portrays. Wilde is using this imagined happiness to prove to the reader that we can have fleeting moments of pleasure if we make ourselves believe something to be a certain
In life, many of us are searching. There is this notion that we are born unfulfilled, and we need something to quench our desires. Some go looking for satisfaction in material pleasures such as money and lavish items, others seek it in pursuing knowledge and sharpening their intellecuts, while others rely on their good looks and vanity to get them by. All these things and many more are forms to obtain temporary satisfaction or pleasure. Yet, true fulfillment comes from happiness, and if you are constantly searching for something to fill that void, then clearly you will never truly be satisfied by these mundane things. However, for many they are unable to attain this true fulfillment and are constantly trying to unravel …show more content…
In the beginning, Dorian Gray seems to be a somewhat aloof character, who is unaware of his beautiful looks and simply living his youthful and naive life. Lord Henry even goes as far to describe him as a young Adonis, with a rugged strong face and coal-black hair, whose personality is likened to Narcissus. Nevertheless, when this whisper of influence from Lord Henry is introduced to him, Dorian recognizes the emptiness in his life. The cunning manipulation of Lord Henry starts of by highlighting to Dorian, “all influence is immoral -- because to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul, he becomes an echo of someone else.” This quotation not only starts Dorian on his downward spiral but is foreshadowing for the actions that will transpire in the novel. From that stage on, Dorian moves from his childlike innocence to recognizing the world around him. Lord Henry further preys on his innocence by telling him, “you have the most marvellous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having and when your youth goes, your beauty goes with it”. This initial thoughts are what spark Dorian’s longing to keep his beauty not only to ensure his youth, but he is also starting to believe that his looks are the form to lifelong …show more content…
This notion mixed with Lord Henry’s influence is what make Dorian exclaim, “How said it is! I shall grow old, and terrible and dreadful but this picture will remain always young. If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that I would give my soul!”
This initial scene is what sets the stage for Dorian’s constant search for more in life. This is both a by-product of Lord Henry’s manipulation and the casual hedonistic society he has surround himself in. From this point on, this is the mystery Dorian Gray is to unravel. Not only the mystery of the painting but also of life. The people around him see to have it all: money, good looks and status yet they are unhappy. Dorian seems a sliver of happiness with Sibyl Vane, however, he throws it all way when he realizes that is all based on an allusion. He does not love her for who she truly is but for the act that she puts up and the characters she portrays. Wilde is using this imagined happiness to prove to the reader that we can have fleeting moments of pleasure if we make ourselves believe something to be a certain