A Comparison Of Identity In Great Expectations And The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Identity in Great Expectations and The Picture of Dorian Gray An old saying goes, “you are who your friends are,” and while many people refuse to believe the statement, its message has reigned true for many centuries and will continue to reign true until the end of time. The individuals with whom a person chooses to surround him or herself with greatly impacts the person he or she will inevitably become. In addition to shaping personality and morality, friends and peers assist in discerning how individuals view themselves. In the nineteenth century novels, Great Expectations and The Picture of Dorian Gray, authors, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde, reveal how the influence of the people one surrounds his or herself with play a significant role
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Despite losing his fortune in an attempt to help Magwitch escape, Joe pays off Pip’s debts and gives him a second chance at continuing his life as a gentleman. In return for the immense favor, Pip redeems himself as a gentleman: “Many a year went round, before I was a partner in the House; but, I lived happily with Herbert and his wife, and lived frugally, and paid my debts, and maintained a constant correspondence with Biddy and Joe” (Dickens 450). Dickens insinuates that Pip’s life improves drastically once he realizes the people who truly care for and support him. Mrs Havisham and Estella never truly cared about Pip’s happiness and well-being; once Pip discovers their true intentions, he stops focusing so intently on making them happy and focuses on what actually matters to make himself happy. In addition to removing the toxic people from his life, Pip also allows caring people, like Joe and Biddy, to re-enter, and in turn, becomes a sincerely good and successful member of society, thus redeeming himself. Dickens wants to expose the importance of redemption and second chances that only kind-hearted people can provide. While Dickens reveals the power of redemption from evil through good people, Wilde exposes the traumatizing effects of the absence of good people can have on influencing the identity of an originally good-hearted person. Because Henry swayed Dorian to live only for himself and the physical pleasures of life, he corrupted his soul, and therefore, lost opportunities to form relationships with good people, who could have saved him from himself. By the time he realizes he had “tarnished himself,” “filled his mind with corruption,” and “given horror to his fancy,” time has run out to turn his life around (Wilde 206). Wilde implies Lord Henry influences Dorian to the point of no return, and by the time he
Despite losing his fortune in an attempt to help Magwitch escape, Joe pays off Pip’s debts and gives him a second chance at continuing his life as a gentleman. In return for the immense favor, Pip redeems himself as a gentleman: “Many a year went round, before I was a partner in the House; but, I lived happily with Herbert and his wife, and lived frugally, and paid my debts, and maintained a constant correspondence with Biddy and Joe” (Dickens 450). Dickens insinuates that Pip’s life improves drastically once he realizes the people who truly care for and support him. Mrs Havisham and Estella never truly cared about Pip’s happiness and well-being; once Pip discovers their true intentions, he stops focusing so intently on making them happy and focuses on what actually matters to make himself happy. In addition to removing the toxic people from his life, Pip also allows caring people, like Joe and Biddy, to re-enter, and in turn, becomes a sincerely good and successful member of society, thus redeeming himself. Dickens wants to expose the importance of redemption and second chances that only kind-hearted people can provide. While Dickens reveals the power of redemption from evil through good people, Wilde exposes the traumatizing effects of the absence of good people can have on influencing the identity of an originally good-hearted person. Because Henry swayed Dorian to live only for himself and the physical pleasures of life, he corrupted his soul, and therefore, lost opportunities to form relationships with good people, who could have saved him from himself. By the time he realizes he had “tarnished himself,” “filled his mind with corruption,” and “given horror to his fancy,” time has run out to turn his life around (Wilde 206). Wilde implies Lord Henry influences Dorian to the point of no return, and by the time he