In Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, an experienced and insightful man shares a compelling philosophy of life with a younger, less refined man. This transmission of ideas opens up the interpretation of how art and society influence identity in ways that at first glance do not seem innate. As the artist Basil transforms Dorian Gray into a work of art, his acquaintance Lord Henry speaks to Dorian about the wonders and tragedies of the human condition. Although Dorian is the subject of Basil's art, Henry recognizes him as pure and takes the opportunity to make Dorian a subject of his own. Basil's purpose is to create a masterpiece that captures an abstract sense of beauty, but do Henry's statements also have a purpose in mind? He tells Dorian of the profound misery men feel for denying themselves the joy of life, that the possibility of acting on innate impulses exists only in youth, and that Dorian will be separated from his charms sooner than he realizes. The news of the brevity of youth disconcertes Dorian and instills in him the urgency to work against his inevitable demise. In his weakened state, Dorian is impressionable, and his impromptu teacher, Lord Henry, happens to be well-prepared to discuss methods for leading a fruitful existence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Henry proclaims that “the purpose of life is self-development,” which requires “giving form to every feeling, expression to every thought, [and] reality to every dream” (Wilde 74). He informs Dorian that this ideal is rarely achieved, however, because “the two things that govern [man],” the terrors of society and God, prevent individuals from realizing their true nature (74). “the two things that govern man” arise from fear and self-denial, which means that this form of “ruling” is based on weakness and obeying it is a mistake because of this intuition, “the sense of beauty [ of Dorian] [comes] to him as a revelation,” and “life suddenly becomes fire-colored for him” (81, 75). Henry exploits Dorian's deep fear of losing his youth and appeals to his dismay with a solution, a lifestyle that makes the most of man's brief boyish charm. Rather than being skeptical, Dorian is fascinated by the prospect of his beauty granting him favor in life. It is unclear whether this impact on Dorian's ideology was intentional or not, but a closer reading of this section offers interpretations of Lord Henry's influence that illuminate his goals. On the surface, this section appears to be little more than a wealthy, knowledgeable man sharing his life philosophy with a younger, less refined subject. However, when viewed as a defining moment in the trajectory of Dorian's life, it is possible to read this scene as the beginning of Lord Henry's experiment with Dorian. Henry tells him about the things that "rule" man and assumes that these forces would otherwise be unwanted and serve little more than pleasure inhibitors. The Oxford English Dictionary has two definitions of “to govern” which seem to fit Lord Henry's use of it in his lecture to Dorian, and they are as follows: “2.a: to direct and control the actions and affairs of the people; govern through the exercise of authority” and “5.a: act as a dominant or principal influence on a person; direct or guide behavior” (OED). These definitions agree with the ones I have in mind for this word and fit Henry's message, so when it appeared in the novel it didn't seem out of place or worthy of further attention. Manas the novel progresses and Dorian's unbridled behavior becomes detrimental to the health of his soul, I have become increasingly suspicious of Henry and his initial motivations. With this new direction, I decided to look back at Henry's lecture and the Oxford English Dictionary to see if any alternative definitions might shed light on the purpose of Henry's words. What I found was a second definition that complicated my understanding of what it means to be “govern[ed].” Another meaning of “to govern” is “1.a: to supervise or have responsibility for (especially a child); keep safe, protect” (OED). While Henry states that government is synonymous with oppression, and Dorian eagerly embraces this as an irrefutable fact, this secondary definition demonstrates that an opposing view is available. Instead of “the terror of society… and the terror of God” that keep man fearful and meek, they are the forces that protect him from the dangers of an unrestricted life, and perhaps even direct him toward more altruistically fulfilling endeavors (74) . Humanity's struggle against morality is as old as time, yet this struggle is made manageable by our desire to respect and serve the order of society at large. Being the educated man that he is, Henry probably knows the beneficial aspects of the “things that govern man,” yet he chooses to present this phenomenon to Dorian only as something he should oppose at all costs. Such obvious bias in Henry's supposed factual lesson perpetuates the idea that he had ulterior motives in addressing Dorian. Following this line of inquiry, I have chosen to look for other cases that capture Lord Henry's awareness of his manipulative practices. Once Dorian is reintroduced to the world, inspired to experience all its pleasures, Henry will be eager to watch how his antics change. Henry feels that he has given Dorian a rare opportunity by informing him of the value of youth, since "common people [must] wait until life reveals its secrets to them", but, for Dorian, "the mysteries of life [are ] revealed first the veil [is] drawn aside” (101). Revealing the mysteries of life, says Henry, is “sometimes… the effect of art,” so by prematurely revealing the secrets of life to Dorian, Lord Henry takes on the role of a work of art in Dorian's life (101). By appealing to Dorian's sense of passion and intellect, Henry convinces Dorian of a vision of life that he treasures as if it had always existed within him, just like a work. of art could make for a receptive viewer. Art is an integral part of this novel, as Dorian is tied to the qualities of a work of art, Basil possesses great artistic ability, and Lord Henry is a consumer of the splendor of life. , so every time a character defines or refers to the art, offers understanding of how they see it and its effects. Returning once again to the Oxford English Dictionary, I find meanings of the word “art” that highlight Henry's use of it. The main definition, “1. ability to do something, esp. as a result of knowledge or practice” applies to Basil's painterly attitude and is familiar to the way I understand art in my life (OED). Another definition in the Oxford English Dictionary is one I am not used to, although it has certainly improved my understanding of how Henry perceives art and what he believes its purpose is. This alternative meaning of art is: “11.a: Cunning, deception; action that seeks to achieve its ends by artificial, indirect or hidden means” (OED). Seeing this, I am further convinced that Henry deliberately tampered with Dorian's mind. Henry.