“I am what *you* made me! I lived the life that you preached... but never dared practice. I am everything that you were too afraid to be.”
For the first time, Dorian notices to the truth of his own beauty when he sees Basil's portrait of him and Lord Henry’s words after he sees the portrait. Lord Henry told him that he was beautiful, but when he aged he would no longer have beauty. He thinks how important beauty is, and that he can give everything to keep his physical beauty. He comprehends the most important thing of him is his beauty. Beauty is more important than his soul.
I believe that this is one of the most important questions of the book: What are the effects of words on people? Being a witty person of words gained pleasure to Lord Henry; he began to talk to Dorian at once with a serious tone and with clarity of the sentences: “You are too charming to go in for philanthropy, Mr. Gray – far too charming.” Dorian couldn’t notice the thing which made Lord Henry was pleasure. When he looked back on his life, he got that beauty was not the most important thing. All the things happened because of the desires of words.
To Wilde, words were material and real: “Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape of them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?” How can they change one’s life completely? How?!
For the first time, Dorian notices to the truth of his own beauty when he sees Basil's portrait of him and Lord Henry’s words after he sees the portrait. Lord Henry told him that he was beautiful, but when he aged he would no longer have beauty. He thinks how important beauty is, and that he can give everything to keep his physical beauty. He comprehends the most important thing of him is his beauty. Beauty is more important than his soul.
I believe that this is one of the most important questions of the book: What are the effects of words on people? Being a witty person of words gained pleasure to Lord Henry; he began to talk to Dorian at once with a serious tone and with clarity of the sentences: “You are too charming to go in for philanthropy, Mr. Gray – far too charming.” Dorian couldn’t notice the thing which made Lord Henry was pleasure. When he looked back on his life, he got that beauty was not the most important thing. All the things happened because of the desires of words.
To Wilde, words were material and real: “Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape of them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?” How can they change one’s life completely? How?!
I also think that it is very sorrowful; Dorian Gray could understand his creator, Lord Henry, and his influences on him at the end of his life. Even at the beginning of the story, Dorian was influenced by Lord Henry, but he thought his words are undoubtly true. Even Lord Henry doesn't act according to his words, naivety of Dorian must be because of his boyhood.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tiara that words are the strongest way to influence someone. I think the answer of the biggest question of the book is that. Also the biggest and the most clear example is Dorian Gray who strongly believes the expressive words of a witty man.
I think both are right. Words are great inventions to create the world of lies and the greatest weapons to control it. There are lots of governors who talks about life and how to live it. They show us “wonderful” ways to live and they do the “same” thing like us. They are just showmen who influence people just by words. Those words take you from here to heaven or hell. They can make you believe you are in a war or they can tell you that your military is good, you don’t have to worry about yourself and rest of the world. Just like Lord Henry Wotton; tell something, be sure that is being applied and have a good seat to watch that entertainment program.
ReplyDeleteAnd about Dorian, I think burcu is right; believing in what Lord Henry says is just about Dorian’s boyhood. But also it is about evidences. Dorian sees Lord Henry when he is doing “a bit of what he said.”
The quiet war has begun with silent weapons
And the new slavery is to keep
The people poor and stupid
“Novus Ordo Seclurum”