In, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," the main character Dorian acquires a thirst for youth that eventually dominates his life. In Having a flattering outer appearance places a person a pedestal, and because of this mindset, obsession as a means to perfections is justifiable. However, what we fail to put into consideration, is that beauty is suffocating. Beauty is a distraction to other important aspects of life, and it's everlasting role in the world makes it a recurring part of life.
As Dorian's character develops, the reader sees that beauty is suffocating. Throughout the novel, Wilde manifests references to popular figures in mythology, and that of Narcissus particularly matches Dorian's personality. In summary, Narcissus, a gorgeous, innocent young man who one day stands by a river and sees his reflection for the first time, drowns because he has been gazing so intently at his image. Coincidentally enough, Dorian also finds himself one day inspecting his portrait for the first time and "[kisses]those painted lips andmorning after morning[sits] before the portrait wondering at its beauty"(101). Through this imagery, Wilde mythologically alludes toward the idea that Dorian himself contains a Narcissus-like personality in the sense that the sooner he is revealed to his beauty, the sooner he will drown in it. Wilde induces further proof of this comparison when the portrait alters and becomes a "monstrous and loathsome thing" (101). Like Narcissus, the portrait represents an image of him, but unlike his Greek counterpart, the picture presents Dorian with a microscope to the quite horrific reality of his inner self. Therefore because his life becomes surrounded by the reflection of outer beauty, the reader feels that the vital need for one to have a perfect image has been enhanced; whereas, inner beauty has been increasingly overlooked.
Beauty also serves as a distraction for Dorian's supposed faith.
