“Hedonism” By Jessica Shelby Essay

Oscar WildesThe Picture of Dorian Gray is a primordial deterrent example of hedonism, a movement in the late 1800s that claims pleasure to be the prime goal in ones life. The focus of the novel is the dish of Dorian Gray, his self-destructive search for pleasure, and the depravation of both the extends he has encountered and his give soul. Beauty and pleasure are the focus of all characters and scenes depicted in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wildes timeless 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 boy until he-in a mad instant- prays that his stunner shall live on while his portrait excesss the resemblance of his shame and disgrace. sweet basil Hallward, the painter of the doomed portrait, praises Dorian for his timeless beauty and innocence. Basil is haunt with Dorian, and his pleasure is found with the ideal of Dorian that allows him to paint so elusively. The turpitude of Dorian begins with Basils adoration, still it is lofted with Lord Henrys hedonistic ideals and all around negative 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 globely concern were to live out his life fully 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 fresh impulse of joy that we would extradite to Hellenic ideal- to something finer, richer, than the Hellenic ideal. With musings such as this, Lord Henry begins his coup detat of young Dorians mind, ideals, and eventually 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 Vane and intends to apologize.Then, Lord Henry tells him of her close and makes it sound glorious- like the perfect ending to a delightful play.  rather than dwelling in the death of a loved one, Dorian tosses the take aside. Dorian develops in the novel. He begins lofty collections, but eventually bores of them. Then, Dorian searches for pleasure in religion he even considers converting to Catholicism-not because of any matter to in God, but because he fancies the customs. However, Dorian soon grows weary of that and begins to try out refuge with opium, experimentation, and the finding and destroying of ro humannessces.All of the lives that Dorian touches are blasphemies, banished, or buried.The women who stomach met Dorian cannot walk about shamelessly, because Prince Charming-as Sybil Vane christened young Dorian- has taught them shame, has dishonor them, and found pleasure with his shameless use of them. The men who drive home befriended Dorian either are banished from London, living in Opium dens like Adrian Singleton, or have taken their own lives like Alan Campbell. Meanwhile, Dorian corpse gorgeous, but his depiction grows hideous. Even in the growing bestial creature on the ill canvas gives Dorian pleasure. Dorian is so pleased that he bares no shame the thing behind the cloth that lives in the canvas is destine to that. Not Dorian, however, he can seek pleasure with no outwards consequences. Not until Dorian-in, yet another fit of rage- stabs the portrait transferring all of his sins, shame, and corruption to his own flesh and blood and his once luminous beauty takes its step to the fore on the canvas.The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, not besides depicts the hedonistic ideals, but it also portrays why 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 pursuit 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 look were banished from London, not able to show their face, or so ashamed that they resorted to winning their own lives. Oscar WildesThe Picture of Dorian Gray is a prime example of hedonistic ideals because of the characters, their actions, and demise.