A Comparison Of Identity In Great Expectations And The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Identity in Great Expectations and The Picture of Dorian Gray An old saying goes, “you are who your friends are,” and while many people refuse to believe the statement, its message has reigned true for many centuries and will continue to reign true until the end of time. The individuals with whom a person chooses to surround him or herself with greatly impacts the person he or she will inevitably become. In addition to shaping personality and morality, friends and peers assist in discerning how individuals view themselves. In the nineteenth century novels, Great Expectations and The Picture of Dorian Gray, authors, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde, reveal how the influence of the people one surrounds his or herself with play a significant role
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in the determination of the way an individual views themselves in regards to his or her well-being and self-satisfaction. Dickens exhibits that as long as one has compassionate and benevolent people in one’s life, one can always seek redemption from immoral behaviors, when necessary; whereas, Wilde shows the egregious effects that accompany the absence of quality peers and friends in one’s life, and how, without well-meaning people to care for and support one, not even absolution can save an individual from themselves. Surrounding oneself with destructive, antipathetic people contributes to an individual becoming a selfish and immoral member of society, who views themselves with dissatisfaction, because they cannot meet a standard propagated by the people closest to them. In Great Expectations, Pip feels dissatisfied with himself, because he does not fit into the same social class as Estella and Miss Havisham; they constantly put him down about the difference until he feels he has no choice, but to change who he is. After realizing the extent of the difference, Pip discloses to Biddy that he “wants to be a gentleman,” and when she questions him as to why, he exclaims, “I am not at all happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life” (Dickens 118). Dickens implies that although Pip claims to wish to change himself because he does not want to shape and repair metal for a living, his true desires to become a gentleman lies in approval from Miss Havisham and love from Estella.The difference in stated desire for change and true desire for a change in identity serve as significant, because Pip’s true desire to change does not originate from the inclination to better himself, for himself; but rather, to better himself for approval from the eyes of others. Had he never met Estella or Miss Havisham, he would not have become dissatisfied with the country blacksmith life, nor would he have felt any desire to change his identity to seek approval. Dickens utilizes Pip’s young age symbolically as justification for his otherwise irrational decision, suggesting that children make impulsive and rash decisions, and thereby implying this type of behavior as childish. Dickens wants to condone to readers, the behavior of wishing change upon oneself or acting without thinking in general to impress others, because more often than not, a change in identity will not fabricate any change in opinion and will only lead to continued discontentment. In addition to setting impossible standards to require approval, inauspicious friends can make one feel inferior about oneself and in turn, create feelings of resentment towards the self and a desire to never change one’s identity. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray becomes quickly dissatisfied after talking to Lord Henry about his fleeting youth and beauty. Afterwards, Basil announces he has finished Dorian’s portrait and Dorian reacts by asserting that the painting makes him jealous and mocks him:“I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous of the portrait you have painted of me” (Wilde 28). Wilde insinuates that Dorian feels jealousy towards the painting, because Lord Henry makes him feel guilty about the inevitability of aging and pushes him to prioritize his beauty over qualities such as intellect and kindness towards others. Had Dorian never encountered Henry, he would have never become enthralled with his appearance or dissatisfied that it would not remain constant over time. However, because Dorian takes a great interest in pursuing and maintaining a friendship with the Lord, Wilde reveals he takes advantage of Dorian and uses him like an object, one by which he can mold and shape to his corrupt liking. As Dorian becomes closer with Henry, he begins to end relationships with other people he once considered close and continues to grow more infatuated with his own self image and obsessed with the desire to not change his identity; however, as time progresses, Dorian realizes Henry has corrupted his mind and life with his hedonistic philosophies, and detests the monster Henry has created even more so than he would have detested his aging self. Wilde employs the picture of Dorian Gray as an allegory to represent Dorian’s soul, and reveals how it grows uglier and uglier as Dorian continues to fall prey to Lord Henry’s deceitful ways. Lord Henry depicts evil in The Picture of Dorian Gray, but Oscar Wilde uses his character to warn readers about the dangers of blindly following the lifestyles of people who live selfish, hedonistic, corrupted lives, and how people similar to Lord Henry can not only ruin their own lives, but the lives of everyone close to them. When a person accompanies themselves with warm-hearted, loving individuals, he or she can always seek forgiveness and earn a second chance.
Despite losing his fortune in an attempt to help Magwitch escape, Joe pays off Pip’s debts and gives him a second chance at continuing his life as a gentleman. In return for the immense favor, Pip redeems himself as a gentleman: “Many a year went round, before I was a partner in the House; but, I lived happily with Herbert and his wife, and lived frugally, and paid my debts, and maintained a constant correspondence with Biddy and Joe” (Dickens 450). Dickens insinuates that Pip’s life improves drastically once he realizes the people who truly care for and support him. Mrs Havisham and Estella never truly cared about Pip’s happiness and well-being; once Pip discovers their true intentions, he stops focusing so intently on making them happy and focuses on what actually matters to make himself happy. In addition to removing the toxic people from his life, Pip also allows caring people, like Joe and Biddy, to re-enter, and in turn, becomes a sincerely good and successful member of society, thus redeeming himself. Dickens wants to expose the importance of redemption and second chances that only kind-hearted people can provide. While Dickens reveals the power of redemption from evil through good people, Wilde exposes the traumatizing effects of the absence of good people can have on influencing the identity of an originally good-hearted person. Because Henry swayed Dorian to live only for himself and the physical pleasures of life, he corrupted his soul, and therefore, lost opportunities to form relationships with good people, who could have saved him from himself. By the time he realizes he had “tarnished himself,” “filled his mind with corruption,” and “given horror to his fancy,” time has run out to turn his life around (Wilde 206). Wilde implies Lord Henry influences Dorian to the point of no return, and by the time he
understands what he has become, he is too far gone that not even absolution can save him. This realization serves as significant, because it makes Dorian dissatisfied with himself once again. Thereby, his self dissatisfaction leads to Dorian attempting to destroy the now ugly portrait once and for all, and in doing so, destroys himself. Dorian’s suicide serves as proof that neither him, not anyone else could have saved him. Wilde wants to emphasize to readers that sins always manifest themselves upon people, in form or another and having negative people in one’s life always make it more difficult to live without sin. In both of their novels, Dickens and Wilde emphasize the necessity of having good people in one’s life, and the consequences that arise from the addition of toxic people into one’s life. Dickens reveals how having good people can lead to redemption and second chances; whereas, Wilde reveals how the lack of good people can lead to the destruction of the self and soul.
in the determination of the way an individual views themselves in regards to his or her well-being and self-satisfaction. Dickens exhibits that as long as one has compassionate and benevolent people in one’s life, one can always seek redemption from immoral behaviors, when necessary; whereas, Wilde shows the egregious effects that accompany the absence of quality peers and friends in one’s life, and how, without well-meaning people to care for and support one, not even absolution can save an individual from themselves. Surrounding oneself with destructive, antipathetic people contributes to an individual becoming a selfish and immoral member of society, who views themselves with dissatisfaction, because they cannot meet a standard propagated by the people closest to them. In Great Expectations, Pip feels dissatisfied with himself, because he does not fit into the same social class as Estella and Miss Havisham; they constantly put him down about the difference until he feels he has no choice, but to change who he is. After realizing the extent of the difference, Pip discloses to Biddy that he “wants to be a gentleman,” and when she questions him as to why, he exclaims, “I am not at all happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life” (Dickens 118). Dickens implies that although Pip claims to wish to change himself because he does not want to shape and repair metal for a living, his true desires to become a gentleman lies in approval from Miss Havisham and love from Estella.The difference in stated desire for change and true desire for a change in identity serve as significant, because Pip’s true desire to change does not originate from the inclination to better himself, for himself; but rather, to better himself for approval from the eyes of others. Had he never met Estella or Miss Havisham, he would not have become dissatisfied with the country blacksmith life, nor would he have felt any desire to change his identity to seek approval. Dickens utilizes Pip’s young age symbolically as justification for his otherwise irrational decision, suggesting that children make impulsive and rash decisions, and thereby implying this type of behavior as childish. Dickens wants to condone to readers, the behavior of wishing change upon oneself or acting without thinking in general to impress others, because more often than not, a change in identity will not fabricate any change in opinion and will only lead to continued discontentment. In addition to setting impossible standards to require approval, inauspicious friends can make one feel inferior about oneself and in turn, create feelings of resentment towards the self and a desire to never change one’s identity. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray becomes quickly dissatisfied after talking to Lord Henry about his fleeting youth and beauty. Afterwards, Basil announces he has finished Dorian’s portrait and Dorian reacts by asserting that the painting makes him jealous and mocks him:“I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous of the portrait you have painted of me” (Wilde 28). Wilde insinuates that Dorian feels jealousy towards the painting, because Lord Henry makes him feel guilty about the inevitability of aging and pushes him to prioritize his beauty over qualities such as intellect and kindness towards others. Had Dorian never encountered Henry, he would have never become enthralled with his appearance or dissatisfied that it would not remain constant over time. However, because Dorian takes a great interest in pursuing and maintaining a friendship with the Lord, Wilde reveals he takes advantage of Dorian and uses him like an object, one by which he can mold and shape to his corrupt liking. As Dorian becomes closer with Henry, he begins to end relationships with other people he once considered close and continues to grow more infatuated with his own self image and obsessed with the desire to not change his identity; however, as time progresses, Dorian realizes Henry has corrupted his mind and life with his hedonistic philosophies, and detests the monster Henry has created even more so than he would have detested his aging self. Wilde employs the picture of Dorian Gray as an allegory to represent Dorian’s soul, and reveals how it grows uglier and uglier as Dorian continues to fall prey to Lord Henry’s deceitful ways. Lord Henry depicts evil in The Picture of Dorian Gray, but Oscar Wilde uses his character to warn readers about the dangers of blindly following the lifestyles of people who live selfish, hedonistic, corrupted lives, and how people similar to Lord Henry can not only ruin their own lives, but the lives of everyone close to them. When a person accompanies themselves with warm-hearted, loving individuals, he or she can always seek forgiveness and earn a second chance.
Despite losing his fortune in an attempt to help Magwitch escape, Joe pays off Pip’s debts and gives him a second chance at continuing his life as a gentleman. In return for the immense favor, Pip redeems himself as a gentleman: “Many a year went round, before I was a partner in the House; but, I lived happily with Herbert and his wife, and lived frugally, and paid my debts, and maintained a constant correspondence with Biddy and Joe” (Dickens 450). Dickens insinuates that Pip’s life improves drastically once he realizes the people who truly care for and support him. Mrs Havisham and Estella never truly cared about Pip’s happiness and well-being; once Pip discovers their true intentions, he stops focusing so intently on making them happy and focuses on what actually matters to make himself happy. In addition to removing the toxic people from his life, Pip also allows caring people, like Joe and Biddy, to re-enter, and in turn, becomes a sincerely good and successful member of society, thus redeeming himself. Dickens wants to expose the importance of redemption and second chances that only kind-hearted people can provide. While Dickens reveals the power of redemption from evil through good people, Wilde exposes the traumatizing effects of the absence of good people can have on influencing the identity of an originally good-hearted person. Because Henry swayed Dorian to live only for himself and the physical pleasures of life, he corrupted his soul, and therefore, lost opportunities to form relationships with good people, who could have saved him from himself. By the time he realizes he had “tarnished himself,” “filled his mind with corruption,” and “given horror to his fancy,” time has run out to turn his life around (Wilde 206). Wilde implies Lord Henry influences Dorian to the point of no return, and by the time he
understands what he has become, he is too far gone that not even absolution can save him. This realization serves as significant, because it makes Dorian dissatisfied with himself once again. Thereby, his self dissatisfaction leads to Dorian attempting to destroy the now ugly portrait once and for all, and in doing so, destroys himself. Dorian’s suicide serves as proof that neither him, not anyone else could have saved him. Wilde wants to emphasize to readers that sins always manifest themselves upon people, in form or another and having negative people in one’s life always make it more difficult to live without sin. In both of their novels, Dickens and Wilde emphasize the necessity of having good people in one’s life, and the consequences that arise from the addition of toxic people into one’s life. Dickens reveals how having good people can lead to redemption and second chances; whereas, Wilde reveals how the lack of good people can lead to the destruction of the self and soul.