Cien says:
Dorian starts out naive but lovely. When he realizes his portrait can take house his soul and take the punishment, he becomes inwardly vile. But as far as I can tell, he was already selfish and foolish -- the portrait merely let him stay that way. Is this book really about what people will do without the prospect of punishment? I don't think so -- I do not think Basil would have become like Dorian had he had the opportunity. What I see more clearly is an illustration of a weak person being allowed to become weaker.
About: Picture of Dorian Gray, The
Would all of our portraits end like Dorian's?
Feb 3, 2007
9:44 am
9:44 am
psycheinaboat says:
I remember Dorian really enjoying witnessing the picture as it became more grotesque. I think it takes a certain type of person to relish in self decay as well as sadism. Perhaps, Dorian was weak and that allowed him to be lured into evil. I think you are right that not everyone would have the same temptation, but perhaps we would all go “astray” in our own special way… I dare say many of us probably would.
I remember Dorian really enjoying witnessing the picture as it became more grotesque. I think it takes a certain type of person to relish in self decay as well as sadism. Perhaps, Dorian was weak and that allowed him to be lured into evil. I think you are right that not everyone would have the same temptation, but perhaps we would all go “astray” in our own special way… I dare say many of us probably would.
Feb 3, 2007
6:45 pm
6:45 pm
Alexei says:
In the way you put the question, Cien, Dorian starts to remind me of Macbeth. I am not quite sure what will be with the other people, but i actually think mine is going to be as Dorian's. The problem is that freadom in all it's forms is extremely dangerous gift. And freadom of death is even more dangerous. With this portrait Dorian was delibareted of his humanity, because the only common thing with people are birth and death. And with the opportunity of immortality Dorian isn't human any more. And that's why his portrait, his soul, becomes more and more unhuman with every single day.
In the way you put the question, Cien, Dorian starts to remind me of Macbeth. I am not quite sure what will be with the other people, but i actually think mine is going to be as Dorian's. The problem is that freadom in all it's forms is extremely dangerous gift. And freadom of death is even more dangerous. With this portrait Dorian was delibareted of his humanity, because the only common thing with people are birth and death. And with the opportunity of immortality Dorian isn't human any more. And that's why his portrait, his soul, becomes more and more unhuman with every single day.
Feb 4, 2007
4:17 pm
4:17 pm
Alexei says:
THat's way it is quite hard to say how will be with the others. We can jugde when they are humans, but when they aren't we can't predict what is going to become of theirs personalities.
THat's way it is quite hard to say how will be with the others. We can jugde when they are humans, but when they aren't we can't predict what is going to become of theirs personalities.
Feb 4, 2007
4:19 pm
4:19 pm
Cien says:
Maybe you're right -- maybe my portrait would end up like his; maybe everybody's would. But here's another question: If he hadn't known about the portrait's special powers, if it had been hidden away from him, would he have become evil? He wouldn't have gotten punishment, and yet at the same time, he would not have known that he could ALWAYS escape punishment. Is it the power of the portrait that made him evil, or is it his knowledge of the power of the portrait?
Maybe you're right -- maybe my portrait would end up like his; maybe everybody's would. But here's another question: If he hadn't known about the portrait's special powers, if it had been hidden away from him, would he have become evil? He wouldn't have gotten punishment, and yet at the same time, he would not have known that he could ALWAYS escape punishment. Is it the power of the portrait that made him evil, or is it his knowledge of the power of the portrait?
Feb 11, 2007
12:11 pm
12:11 pm
Alexei says:
That’s a good question, Cien! I think that if he wasn’t seeing his portrait changing he wouldn’t be at that state of evil. Yes, probably the most spoiling effect on his personality has the possibility to make everything without to be punished for these acts. So I think after it was the knowledge of the power of the portrait.
That’s a good question, Cien! I think that if he wasn’t seeing his portrait changing he wouldn’t be at that state of evil. Yes, probably the most spoiling effect on his personality has the possibility to make everything without to be punished for these acts. So I think after it was the knowledge of the power of the portrait.
Feb 13, 2007
5:09 pm
5:09 pm
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