In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, an experienced and insightful man shares a compelling philosophy of life with a younger, less refined man. This transmission of ideas opens up the interpretation of how art and society influence identity in ways that do not seem innate at first glance. As the artist Basil transforms Dorian Gray into a work of art, his acquaintance Lord Henry speaks to Dorian about the wonders and tragedies of the human condition. Although Dorian is the subject of Basil's art, Henry recognizes him as pure and takes the opportunity to make Dorian his own subject. Basil's goal is to create a masterpiece that captures an abstract sense of beauty, but do Henry's claims also have a goal in mind? He tells Dorian of the deep misery that men feel after being deprived of the joy of life, that the possibility of acting on their innate impulses only exists in youth and that Dorian will be separated from his charm sooner than later. he doesn't realize it. Hearing about the brevity of youth confuses Dorian and instills in him the urgency of working against its inevitable demise. In his diminished state, Dorian is impressionable, and it turns out that his makeshift teacher, Lord Henry, is well prepared to discuss methods for leading a successful life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayHenry proclaims that “the purpose of life is personal development,” which calls for “giving form to every feeling, an expression to every thought, [and] reality to every dream” (Wilde 74). He informs Dorian that this ideal is rarely achieved, however, because "the two things that govern [man]", the terrors of society and of God, prevent individuals from ever realizing their true nature (74). Here it seems that Henry is implying that "the two things that govern man" are derived from fear and self-denial, meaning that this form of "government" thrives on weakness and obeying it is a error. Thanks to this intuition, “[Dorian’s] feeling of beauty [imposes itself] on him like a revelation” and “life suddenly takes on a fiery color for him” (81, 75). Henry exploits Dorian's deep-seated fear of losing his youth and appeals to his dismay with a solution, a way of living that makes the most of the man's brief boyish charm. Rather than being skeptical, Dorian is captivated by the prospect that his beauty grants him favors in life. It is unclear whether this impact on Dorian's ideology was intentional or not, but a closer reading of this section offers interpretations of Lord Henry's influence that illuminate his aims. his philosophy of life with a younger and less refined subject. However, when viewed as a defining moment in Dorian's life trajectory, it is possible to read this scene as the beginning of Lord Henry's experience with Dorian. Henry tells him about the things that "govern" man and surmises that these forces are otherwise undesirable and serve as little more than inhibitors of pleasure. The Oxford English Dictionary gives two definitions of the word "govern" which seem to suit Lord Henry's use of it in his lecture to Dorian, and they are as follows: "2.a: to direct and control actions and affairs people; to govern by the exercise of authority” and “5.a: to act as the dominant or principal influence over a person; to direct or guide behavior” (OED). These definitions agree with the ones I have in mind for the word and fit Henry's message, so when they appeared in the novel they didn't seem out of place or deservingdeeper attention. As the novel progressed and Dorian's unbridled behavior became detrimental to the health of his soul, I became more suspicious of Henry and his initial motivations. With this new focus, I decided to return to Henry's lecture and the OED to see if alternative definitions might shed light on the purpose of Henry's words. What I found was a second definition that complicated my understanding of what it means to be "governed." Another meaning of “govern” is “1.a: to supervise or have responsibility for (especially a child); to stay safe, to protect” (OED). While Henry asserts that governance is synonymous with oppression, and Dorian enthusiastically accepts this as an irrefutable fact, this secondary definition demonstrates that an opposing view exists. Instead of "the terror of society...and the terror of God" keeping man frightened and meek, these are the forces that protect him from the dangers of a life without limits, and perhaps even direct him towards efforts more altruistic and fulfilling (74). Humanity's struggle with morality is as old as time, but this struggle is made manageable by our desire to respect and serve the order of society as a whole. As a learned man, Henry undoubtedly knows the beneficial aspects of "the things that govern man", but he chooses to present this phenomenon to Dorian only as something he must thwart at all costs. Such obvious bias in Henry's supposedly factual lesson perpetuates the idea that he had ulterior motives when speaking to Dorian. Following this line of inquiry, I chose to search for other examples that capture Lord Henry's awareness of his manipulative practices. Once Dorian is reintroduced to the world, inspired to experience all its pleasures, Henry is eager to observe how his antics will change. Henry believes he has given Dorian a rare opportunity by informing him of the value of youth, since "ordinary people [must] wait for life to reveal its secrets to them", but, for Dorian, "the mysteries of life . are] revealed before the veil [is] drawn” (101). Revealing the mysteries of life, Henry says, is "sometimes...the effect of art", so in prematurely revealing life's secrets to Dorian, Lord Henry assumes the role of a work of "art" in the life of Dorian (101). By appealing to Dorian's sense of passion and intellect, Henry persuades Dorian of a vision of life that he cherishes as if it had always existed within him, just as a work of art might for a receptive spectator. Art is an integral part of this novel, as Dorian relates to the qualities of a work of art, Basil possesses great artistic ability, and Lord Henry is a consumer of the splendor of life, so whenever a character defines or refers to art, it offers insight into how they perceive it and its effects. Turning once again to the Oxford English Dictionary, I find meanings of the word "art" that highlight Henry's usage of it. The main definition, “1. skill in doing something, especially.” as the result of knowledge or practice” applies to Basil's ability to paint and is familiar to the way I understand art in my life (OED). Another definition from the OED is one that I am not accustomed to, although it has certainly enhanced my understanding of how Henry views art and what he believes to be its purpose. This alternative meaning of art is: “11.a: Cunning, deception; action which seeks to achieve its ends by artificial, indirect or covert means” (OED). Seeing this, I am even more convinced of the.