Thesis / outline page.
Thesis statement:
Even though The Picture Of Dorian Gray and
A Hundred Years Of Solitude were written over 50 years apart they both deal with the fortunate and unfortunate effects of time in a personal level for Dorian Grey and in a more general level for the Buendia family and the entire town of Macondo. These two literary merits both present the story of people who are affected by time and either welcome it as a sign of progress in the case of the Buendia family or do not accept it in the case of Dorian. Both main characters have different views in the way they perceive time and the ultimate effect it has on them and the people in their surroundings.
I. The effects of time
A. Time in Macondo …show more content…
He is able to perceive the world from the eyes of an immortal man which creates a parallel world between reality and his life. This make- believe reality that Dorian lives in believes that there is no restriction on desire as that is all life is about (Gale). "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.” This quote said by Lord Henry is a clear example of the approach Dorian has towards life, this belief that nothing but experiences matter is what creates the reality experienced by Dorian. Henry is able to greatly shape Dorian’s view of life as he induces Gray to the idea of beauty as disloyal and untrustworthy (Moehlig). This creates an alternate reality for Dorian which leads to the need for more beauty and fame. Therefore, developing the magical factors that enable his picture to age as he stays the same. His changing image represents the way in which people change due to influences or trends and his actual self manages to send a similar message as he does NOT change due to the pressure by society to stay beautiful which portrays