LIFE AS THE GREATEST OF THE ARTS - part 2

From The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oliver Twist

-        Arnold Hauser underlines the Hedonistic attitude of the younger generation of the 1880s: they sought pleasure and unforgettable experiences.

-        A criticism of the moral hypocrisy, vulgarity and materialism of Victorian society.

-        Such Hedonism can be easily compared to the attitude of our contemporary new generation: every young person is looking for pleasure, richness, opportunities. Having fun is the key word, and such fun is reached through senses.

-        Yes, I can see some similarities: both the couples are made up of a "good" and a "bad" member. In The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray is the beautiful character, (but he actually is the immoral one) while the picture, beside being his corrupted portrait, embodies the lost purity. In Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, there is the same distinction between an evil and a good figure, but it is noticeable that the immoral one coincides with the one that is also physically corrupted.