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?
http://www.atelier-rc.com/Atelier.RC/b-dayCalendar/02.20.97-AlbrightIvan/DorianGray.jpg
I think that is up to you. I mean if you do the right thing it's great and if you're doing it for a bad reason at least some good is coming from it. However, I think there is a certain amount of self-gratification from doing the right thing, and I think you miss that when you do the right thing for a superficial or bad reason.
ReplyDeleteIn the little world of what directly affects us, how moral we are means almost nothing. In fact, being immoral is most beneficial to us, because we don't have any morals tying us down. In the long run, however, being moral will benefit you more because people will be more generous toward you, and (for me at least) you probably couldn't live with your conscience.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that it matters WHY we do the right thing. If you do the right thing with indifferent, or even malintentions, you will take no pleasure in recognizing your good deed! And also, I believe in a divine power, so it really doesnt matter how many good deeds you did to the big guy, but if they were backed up by good intentions.
ReplyDeleteChristine B:
ReplyDeleteI think it should matter...for instance: if you didn't like the creepy new girl but decided to be friends with her when no one else was after you found out that her father was a writer for Smallville, then your "niceness" wouldn't be real, and therefore, not justified.