Our Brother's Keeper

"One's days were too brief to take the burden of another's errors on one's shoulders. Each man lived his own life, and paid his own price for living it" (p. 194). So observes Dorian after running into Adrian Singleton at the opium bar after briefly considering the role Basil accused him of playing in the young man's disintegration.

Yet is this true? At what point does personal responsibility begin and external influence end?


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"A Very Charming Artistic Basis for Ethics"

Shortly after Dorian sees the alterations in his portrait, he tells Lord Henry, "I want to be good. I can't bear the idea of my soul being hideous" (p. 101).

Clearly his motive for doing the right thing is purely superficial--out of a desire not to have an ugly soul. But does it matter why we do the right thing? I suppose many people do the right thing not necessarily because they want to but for an infinite variety of other reasons.

Is Dorian's (temporary) justification of good behavior valid? Does it matter WHY we do the right thing?



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The Epitome of Wit!

"Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes" (p. 44).


I think we all would agree that Lord Henry says some pretty remarkable things--remarkably clever but a bit on the shocking side. Which of his aphorisms has thus far struck you the most, either because it rings of truth to you or because you simply thing it's just so wrong?

Make sure you include the quote AND what you think of it...










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Forever Young

"How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that--for that--I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!" (p. 28).

How important is your youth to you? How much do you think about the loss of youth? What is it about the loss of youth you find most disturbing?




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The Invariably Entertaining Musical Connection

The Picture of Dorian Gray focuses on the themes of vanity, eternal youth, personal responsibility and peer pressure--among various others, of course.

What songs do you think reflect these themes? Please specify the song and the artist and explain which theme your suggestion supports. Maybe I'll play it!