The Negative Consequences of Superficiality and Corruption in The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Devil Wears Prada
Superficiality in The Picture of Dorian Gray is connected with the notions of selfishness, supernatural beauty, narcissism, false love, cynics, etc. Corruption is associated with “the corrupted beauty” when a person has a beautiful appearance, but an ugly soul. However, this person is not aware of this or does not want to do this.
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Superficiality in The Devil Wears Prada is connected with correspondence of an inner world to clothes and laws of fashion. Superficiality and corruption are displayed in this film when the main character is transformed from a shy and intelligent girl into a fashionable and stylish one. However, this is not her intention. She is influenced by her boss Miranda.
The scientific novelty of the paper attempts to analyze The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Devil Wears Prada and to identify similarities and differences between the main characters.
This paper intends to underline the peculiarities of superficiality, corruption, and negative influence with the help of two characters: Andrea and Dorian Gray.
The theoretical value of this study is the attempt to investigate similarities and differences of the novel and the movie. The obtained data is hoped to make a contribution to the literature. The aim is to show the immorality of actions of the two characters and conditions that influenced their development.
The practical advantage of the paper is the fact that one can apply the data to studying literature. Besides, one can use this paper for studying moral principles of behavior.
The main questions addressed in this research paper are the following:
– to reveal main themes, images, and similarities in The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Devil Wears Prada;
– to show the impact of “negative consequences”, “superficiality”, and “corruption”; and
– to reveal changes in the characters’ behaviour.
Main Themes, Images, and Similarities in The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Devil Wears Prada
Speaking about The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Devil Wears Prada, one can say that these are absolutely different works with different characters and themes. However, if one analyzes both works carefully, one can find many similarities, especially in terms of central themes and images.
First of all, one should pay the attention to themes. The Picture of Dorian Gray arouses the theme of corruption of a personality. A young and extremely handsome man Dorian Gray makes everybody fall in love with him. However, Dorian Gray is influenced negatively and corrupted by Lord Henry. This is Lord Henry who incites Dorian Gray to admire his appearance. Dorian Gray is even ready to give up his soul for being eternally young. He sells his soul and does not even think that it was the most valuable treasure he had.
With the help of The Picture of Dorian Gray, the author proved that the amoral art did not exist, “the moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium” (Wilde 5). Another theme revealed in this novel is the theme of morality. The image of Dorian Gray helps to understand that any immoral actions can have the negative consequences. Beauty cannot make the soul beautiful as only moral actions can do this.
Philosophy of morality is very intricate and one can notice that in The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Devil Wears Prada. The two main characters, Andrea and Dorian Gray, have their own philosophy of morality. While Andrea hesitates in her actions and doubts the morality of her choices, Dorian Gray does not admit his immoral conduct.
This is Lord Henry who turns Dorian Gray to immorality. He is convinced that one should live for pleasure, realizing one’s wishes and desires even if it contradicts moral principles
and rules. This is a life credo of Lord Henry and he imposes it on Dorian Gray. He says:
The mutilation of the savage has its tragic survival in the self-denial that mars our lives. We are punished for our refusals. (…) The body sins once, and is done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains but the recollection of a pleasure, or luxury of a regret. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful. (Wilde 25)
Comparing with all the characters in this novel, Dorian Gray is the most selfish and cynical one, especially
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