“Hedonism” By Jessica Shelby Essay

Oscar WildesThe Picture of Dorian hoar is a prime example of hedonism, a movement in the late 1800s that claims pleasure to be the prime goal in ones life. The focusing of the novel is the beauty of Dorian colour, his self-destructive search for pleasure, and the degeneracy of both the lives he has encountered and his own soul. Beauty and pleasure are the focus of all characters and scenes depicted in The Picture of Dorian gray. Wildes undated novel vividly portrays the hedonism ideals as the theme of the Picture of Dorian Gray with its characters mentality, roles, and eventual demise.The hero of the novel, Dorian Gray, is introduced as an innocent, beautiful young son until he-in a mad instant- prays that his beauty shall live on composition his portraiture bares the resemblance of his violate and disgrace. Basil Hallward, the painter of the doomed portrait, praises Dorian for his perennial beauty and innocence. Basil is obsessed with Dorian, and his pleasure is found with the ideal of Dorian that allows him to paint so elusively. The corruption of Dorian begins with Basils adoration, barely it is lofted with master Henrys hedonistic ideals and all around ostracise influence. Lord Henry teaches Dorian to cherish his youth and beauty, all the while filling Dorians mind with selfish ideals of pleasure and beauty.I believe that if one man were to live out his life richly and completely, were to give form to all feeling, expression to every thought, reality to every dream- I believe that the world would gain such a scented impulse of joy that we would return to Hellenic ideal- to some social function finer, richer, than the Hellenic ideal. With musings such as this, Lord Henry begins his takeover of young Dorians mind, ideals, and finally his soul. Dorian tries to redeem himself, but with a few words from Lord Henry, he is back in the pursuit of pleasure. For example, Dorian realizes his injustice to Sybil leaf blade and intends to apologize.Then, Lord Henry tells him of her death and makes it sound glorious- like the perfect destination to a delightful play.Rather than dwelling in the death of a loved one, Dorian tosses the matter aside. Dorian develops in the novel. He begins sublime collections, but eventually bores of them. Then, Dorian searches for pleasure in religion he even considers converting to Catholicism-not beca drug abuse of any interest in God, but because he fancies the customs. However, Dorian soon grows weary of that and begins to strain refuge with opium, experimentation, and the finding and destroying of romances.All of the lives that Dorian touches are blasphemies, banished, or buried.The women who have met Dorian cannot walk about shamelessly, because Prince becharm-as Sybil Vane christened young Dorian- has taught them shame, has disgraced them, and found pleasure with his shameless use of them. The men who have befriended Dorian either are banished from London, living in Opium dens like Adrian Si ngleton, or have taken their own lives like Alan Campbell. Meanwhile, Dorian remains gorgeous, but his picture grows hideous. Even in the growing lascivious creature on the unfortunate canvas gives Dorian pleasure. Dorian is so pleased that he bares no shame the thing behind the material that lives in the canvas is destined to that. Not Dorian, however, he can seek pleasure with no outward consequences. Not until Dorian-in, yet another suss out of rage- stabs the portrait transferring all of his sins, shame, and corruption to his own flesh and blood and his formerly luminous beauty takes its place on the canvas.The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, not only depicts the hedonistic ideals, but it also portrays wherefore the movement cannot last in society. Yes, the novel is factual, and it is highly unlikely that a portrait will bare a mans shame while he remains forever young. However, sin is a thing that writes itself across a mans face, and if all of society was in pursui t of selfish pleasure, not only will there be no society, but those who did live such lives would be outcast. For example, all of those in the novel not as fortunate as Dorian to be forever innocent looking were banished from London, not able to show their face, or so ashamed that they resorted to taking their own lives. Oscar WildesThe Picture of Dorian Gray is a prime example of hedonistic ideals because of the characters, their actions, anddemise.