Dorian Gray Narcissism

Considered a part of the three dark traids of personality by psychologists, Narcissism (others being psychopathy and machiavellianism), is characterized by excessive self-obsession especially in lieu of one’s physical appearance. The term has roots in the Greek myth of Narcissus, as told by Ovid in The Metamorphoses. Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water and eventually this lead to his demise, along with his patrons. Similarly The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde is a story about physical beauty and the power that it can have with its protagonist, Dorian Gray being a narcissistic. The novel is an adaptation of the myth of Narcissus as they have similar plots, both including extreme accounts of vanity, love, death,
and vengeance.

Both Narcissus and Dorian are young individuals who are set apart from the general population because of their beauty. Narcissus is the object of desire for many maidens and youths because of his “soft beauty” (Morford et al. 2014, p.331) In the same way in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord Henry describes the painting of Dorian Gray as a “young Adonis, who looks as if he was made out of ivory and rose leaves" (Wilde, 2004, p. 4). He goes further and proclaims “he (Dorian Gray) is a Narcissus” (Wilde, 2004, p. 4). Alike to Narcissus’s “unheeding and unwise” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 333) actions Dorian too was not aware of his own beauty until he sees the portrait made by Basil when “the sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation. He had never felt it before.” (Wilde, 2004, p. 20). But there is no reference to this nativity in the case of Narcissus. Narcissus being beautiful was pursued by many but he rebuffed them all. In an analogous fashion Dorian disregards the admiration of his friends as “merely the charming exaggerations of friendship” (Wilde, 2004, p. 20). Regardless both Dorian Gray and Narcissus are two men destroyed by their own beauty.
Echo, a nymph sees Narcissus in the woods one day and falls in love with him.
She, having been cursed by Hera can only mimic the last words said by someone else. So she follows Narcissus around,waiting for him to say something. When he is separated from his group of hunters, Echo reveals her presence to him. He beguiles her by exclaiming “Come here and let us get together!” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 331). Repeating his words she emerges out of the woods and pursues him. He spurs her in response by telling her that he “would die before (he) lets (her) possess (him)” (Morford et al. 2014, p.332). After enticing her, his rejection wounds Echo and consequently “her voice and bones (tuned to stones) were all that was left” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 332). Narcissus “played with her” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 332) and led to her disappearance. Parallel to the myth of the Echo and Narcissus is the relationship of Dorian and Sibyl Vane. The only difference being that when Dorian first glimpses Sibyl, playing the part of Juliet on stage in the play Romeo and Juliet, he falls in love with her. Like Echo, Sibyl only mimics the chracters of the play. When Lond Herny questions Dorian " when is she Sibyl Vane?", Dorian says "Never"(Wilde, 2004, p.42). He pronounces to his friend and confidant Lord Henry that he “loves her, and (he) must make her love (him)” (Wilde, 2004, p.42). But after he confirms Sibyl’s love for himself and is engaged to her, he cruelly rejects her. He calls her “stupid
and shallow” (Wilde, 2004, p. 65) for she is not a good actress anymore in his eyes and “without (her) art (she is) nothing” (Wilde, 2004, p. 66). And akin to Echo, Sibyl Vane feeling dejected commits suicide.

In others versions of the myth of Narcissus, one of his admires named Ameinias professes his love to Narcissus (Haller, 2010).
In response Narcissus sends a sword to him and Ameinias, in some accounts is said to have prayed to the gods to avenge him before he slays himself on Narcissus’s doorstep. A comparable character by the name of Basil Hallward can be observed in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Basil is the painter who made Dorian’s portrait. His infatuation with Dorian forces him to see through rose colored glasses as is suggested when he says “But you, Dorian, with your pure, bright, innocent face, and your marvelous untroubled youth-I can’t believe anything against you” (Wilde, 2004, p. 120). Dorian after showing Basil the corrupted portrait stabs him. And later blackmails a chemist to burn the body in nitric acid. Thus Both Ameinias and Basil die through their love interest’s
blade.

Either through Ameinias or through another scorned lover of Narcissus, the prayer to seek retribution for the injustice inflicted by Narcissus on many was heard by Nemesis (Morford et al. 2014). As a consequence when Narcissus went near a pool of water to drink some water and saw his reflection “he desired his very self” (Morford et al. 2014, p.333) and fell in love. Unable to behold his lover, he perishes beside the pool of water and is transformed into a flower. As Ovid said of Narcissus “what you perceive is but the reflection of your own image, it has no substance of its own” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 333), a similar statement can be made on behalf of Dorian. After he realizes that all his corruptions are recorded on the portrait and he does not age, he fails to rectify his ways. It’s after that many have suffered on his account he make a miniscule attempt to be ‘good’. Fixated to undo the changes on his reflection in the form of the portrait, he rushes to see the effect. Disappointed and angered, he stabs the painting and as a reflection of it, he dies himself while the painting absolves itself to the former young glory of its subject. Hence, for both Narcissus and Dorian their self-obsession leads to their destruction.

Transforming the elements of Ovid’s myth of Narcissus, Oscar Wilde articulates the dangers of excessive self-indulgence. Dorian Gray, the protagonist of the novel is essentially Narcissus, as can be observed by his actions and is clearly so stated by the author himself. He is handsome, young, breaking hearts of those who fall in love with him and eventually vengeance leads to the death. Thus, The Picture of Dorian Gray intentionally mimics the myth of Narcissus.