Another great message from Father Pat: Oscar Wildes short novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, written in the early part of the twentieth century, describes the life of a tortured man who is unable to look honestly at his life. He refuses to look inside and accept who he truly is. Dorian is a physically handsome young man who possesses power, wealth, and prestige, the three great assets and temptations of contemporary life. An artist, Basil Hallward, who is enamored at Dorians presence, paints a portrait of him, which is indeed a master work. The portrait magically displays the true Dorian: a man who lives inside that physical body, one who is anything but beautiful and handsome. Dorian uses his power to take advantage of others, his wealth to undercut people, and his prestige to place himself in positions of authority where he has the opportunity to do good for others, but always seems to act for his betterment alone. The exterior facade of a handsome and well-groomed man masks the growing ugliness which he carries inside. One day Dorian observes his portrait and notes how it has changed. The eyes and face are different. They show a man who is sinister and evil. Dorian locks the picture in his attic, but the image will not leave him. In a fit of rage he kills the artist, Basil Hallward, an act which makes the portrait grow even uglier. In the end Dorian Gray cannot live with himself. His outside beauty remains while inside his corruption grows. The portrait shows the true person the one whom Dorian knows but is unwilling to accept, the one no one else can see. Dorian Gray died as a tortured soul because he had no capacity to see himself as he really was. He was unable to take the sometimes perilous introspective journey of searching ones soul and honestly looking at ones life in total, especially our relationships with family, friends, associates, and most profoundly God. God sent signs, especially his periodic viewing of the portrait, that were signals he needed to take stock of his life. His refusal to receive and act upon these signs cost him everything. ‘nuf said! God bless, Father Pat
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 19:47:45 +0000
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