Dorian Gray #1

              It is here in the beginning of the story that Lord Henry realizes Dorian Gray is a blank slate onto which he will express his philosophies of life. He does so in a care-free fashion, constantly expressing underlying truths that Gray takes with his naivety as being entirely true. It is here that he introduces Hedonism. He tells Dorian, "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous unlawful" (13-14). Dorian is overwhelmed by the speech as he tries to make sense of it. He considers the words of Lord Henry as being truths. Henry then expands upon this philosophy when Dorian sits in Basil's garden. Here, he warns the muse that his beauty will not always be present, and that with this knowledge, it is wise to use the time he is given to give in to pleasures: "realize your youth while you still have it. Don't squander the gold of your days, listening to the tedious, trying to improve the hopeless failure, or giving away your life to the ignorant, the common, and the vulgar. These are the sickly aims, the false ideals, of our age. Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you!" (16). Henry wants Dorian Gray to realize that his beauty's short life should be embraced while it still remains. It should be used to its full potential. Thus, Dorian should give in to his desires, as that is the only way he should remain youthful. However, what Lord Henry chooses to leave out are the downsides of living a Hedonistic lifestyle. Pleasures of life do not last long, and as one chooses to seek them out without minding its effects on others, they suffer from animosity for the remainder of their days. Dorian Gray does not consider this--he takes in the views, inspired by their seemingly truthful ideas. Lord Henry is fully aware of his power as manipulator.