As I continued reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, I noticed a lot of similarities to themes in The Great Gatsby. Both deal with decadence, class conflicts, and disillusionment, and characters that believe they can undo the past as if it had never happened. By holding onto his youth, Dorian is in some way holding onto the past, living statically while others change around him. Dorian later believes if he starts to be good, he will be able to erase the sins of his past, not realizing that we have no other choice but to live with our past mistakes. They make us who we are, and there is no undoing them. He states, "It would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free" (212). He believes by destroying the picture, he will be free of his conscience and free to start a new future, but by trying to "kill the past", he is really only destroying himself. This is similar to how Gatsby believes he can repeat the past, not understanding that time, no matter how hard we wish it didn't, always changes us. His pursuit to re-live the past leads to his destruction as well.
Both books deal with the idea that money allows people to get away with actions others would not be able to commit without consequence. It protects them from the harsh realities that the rest of the world must face, providing a safe place to hide. This is also clear in The Great Gatsby with the careless way that Daisy and Tom behave, not caring about the lives they destroy in the process: " They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made" (Ch. 9). Dorian treats people in the same way, using his money and his beautiful appearance to shield him from consequences and feelings of guilt. It's interesting, that in both books, the characters who pursue a beautiful and decadent lifestyle end up suffering, becoming disillusioned by all that they once loved.
1 comment:
This is an interesting connection. I think that it is also the charming nature of both characters that allow them to get away with their actions. Since they are both awed by society, no one entirely cares what they do with their lives.
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