Comparison Of Dorian Gray And Goethe's Faust

For my paper I read two stories. I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a European novel published in 1890 that tells the story of the perfect Dorian Gray. Dorian has himself painted by his friend Basil, but soon becomes worried that the painting will serve as a reminder that his beauty will not last. As the story progresses, Dorian shows no sign of age, while the painting shows Dorian’s true self, a man who has corrupted himself with a life of sin. Goethe’s Faust was published 80 years earlier, in 1808. The story of Faust is based off of a German legend that was popular throughout the 16th century. Faust is the story about a scholar, named Doctor Faust, who makes

Doctor Faust feels that he can not gain anything else from his studies. He wants to gain higher forms of knowledge that he has no access to. Dorian Gray is presented with the truth that his beauty and youth will not last forever, and this is a fact that upsets him. Another main character of Goethe's Faust is Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles is just the stories fancy name for the devil. While The Picture of Dorian Gray has no devil figure, Lord Henry is a similar character in the way that he introduces Dorian into his new lifestyle. Lord Henry is also the one who implanted the idea of Dorian’s beauty not lasting forever, so he tempted Dorian Gray into his lifestyle, similar to how Mephistopheles tempted Faust into their adventures. Some other characters that fill similar roles include the love interests for Faust and Dorian, Gretchen and Sibyl. Both Gretchen and Sibyl also have brothers who do not approve of their involvement with the main

Mephistopheles appears before Doctor Faust in his home and offers him a deal. The deal states that Mephistopheles will serve Faust for the remainder of his time on earth, but once Faust dies, he must serve Mephistopheles in hell. If Faust was ever pleased so much from Mephistopheles actions that he wished he was in that moment forever, then Faust would die in that moment. Dorian Gray, after being upset by Basil’s portrait of him, says that he will give his soul if the portrait would bear the burden of age, and that he would stay young. Even though there is no physical character making the deal with Dorian, he sold his soul similar to the deal between Faust and Mephistopheles. Both characters get what they want, made true by some supernatural force. Dorian and Faust both then enter into a new lifestyle. Mephistopheles shows Faust many interesting places and situations, most notably the tavern and the visit to the witch that results in Faust drinking a mysterious potion. Dorian, with the persuasion of Lord Henry, enters into a Hedonistic lifestyle. Dorian, living his life in pursuit of only pleasure, is only putting himself in situations that benefit his own enjoyment of life, similar to Faust’s selfish look at his own adventures. Both characters actions also lead to a tragic end of their respective stories. By the end of Faust, Doctor Faust killed Valentine, Gretchen's brother, and Gretchen killed her and Faust’s child