#3

  In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde exemplifies the ideal of hedonism in Dorian gray.  Hedonism is the belief in living life according to pleasure.  Hedonists seek pleasure despite its costs.  Dorian Gray evolves into a hedonist.  Under the influence of Lord Henry, Dorian learns that his beauty can be used as a tool to procure any pleasure he desires.  This idea is appealing to Dorian.  He becomes a capricious man buying jewels, instruments, and pieces of art as they suite his interests.  Hedonism also has negative effects on Dorian.  Since Dorian only lives for pleasure he chooses to ignore the pieces of life that may cause him pain.  A clear example of this is after the death of Sibyl Vane.  Basil Hallward comes to visit Dorian expecting the young man to be in mourning after the death of his former love.  Instead Dorian is happily going about life and indulging in pleasures.  Basil is shocked, in response to Basil's reaction Dorian says, "What is done is done.  What is past is past...IT is only shallow people who require years to get rid of an emotion.  A man who is a master of himself can end a sorrow easily as he can invent a pleasure.  I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions.  I want to use them, too enjoy them, and to dominate them" (Wilde 79).  Here Dorian chooses not to face the consequences of  his actions.  He caused the death of a young girl, instead of taking responsibility and mourning over her death and his guilt, he chooses to indulge in diversions.  This is an inappropriate reaction to death.  Hedonism makes Dorian inconsiderate.  He does not care about the pain others feel at his hands.  He caused a mother to lose her only daughter, he ended the life of one girl because he rejected her, he took an only sister from a brother.  Yet, he chooses to feel no remorse.  In his hedonistic state he decides that emotions will not rule him, rather he will rule his emotions.  From the hedonistic point of view this means that all emotions that cause displeasure must be ignored.  Emotions that bring euphoria are the only sentiments to be taken into consideration.  This makes Dorian an egotistical person.  This path of hedonism can only lead him to hurt others.  Because Dorian only cares about that which brings him joy, he  does not have the appropriate response to situations.  At the hands of Lord Henry Dorian has become an inconsiderate hedonist.  This can only lead to danger.  As Dorian pursues passions and pleasure, the natural obstacle that caution and consideration would put in the way will be ignored.  In the end Dorian will harm himself and bring others down with him.