A Portrait of the Human Heart Apart from Christ

One of my plans during our family vacation this past summer was to get some serious reading time in (not homework related), which, amazingly, happened. One of the books that I read was The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Not a book that I would recommend by any means (so don’t waste your money), but it is brought up in discussion so often in my lit classes here at the UW, that I thought I better have an idea of what it is that these folks who sit next to me day after day are always talking about. And, sure enough, it’s only two weeks into the quarter and Dorian has already made his appearance.

Wilde’s book is full of worldviews currently found within our culture. It's a study in which pleasure is the ultimate mean, “art is more important than the artist,” life is made up of all of these subjective experiences, and sin is overwhelmingly embraced. Basically, the theme of the book is that life is made up of pleasure, and pleasure is made up of subjective experience minus morality. With the removal of conscience and moral law, man is free to act as he sees fit in order to experience the most subjectively.

For a quick overview: The story begins with a handsome and rich youth, Dorian Gray, who is having his portrait painted. During the session, a man named Lord Henry makes his appearance, and holds a curious fascination for Dorian Gray. It is this Lord Henry who plays the key role in the formation of Dorian’s view and understanding of pragmatic pleasure. The two form a friendship which will last throughout the book.

Due to a rash wish made during this portrait session, Dorian Gray faces life without seeming to externally bear any of the consequences of old age or the hardening of his sinful lifestyle, while the portrait of himself that he stores in his attic evolves and hardens over the years, depicting the hideousness of his own sin. A sort of visual picture of the soul. At first, Dorian finds great delight in “watching” the downfall of sin to his soul. And, as he delights in sin in his own life, he brings all who come into his intimate circle of London friends further into unrighteousness with him.

But, as the years go by in the novel, Dorian’s portrait becomes more and more frighteningly hideous as it visibly bears the consequence of his sin. Fear that someone might “see” the wretchedness of his own soul not normally visible to the human eye affects every part of Dorian Gray’s life. Interestingly, it is fear that others will see him as he truly is, and not remorse for the presence of evil within that drives Dorian in the latter chapters of the novel. As the portrait becomes more and more awful, Dorian himself retains his youthful handsomeness. Finally, though, the consequences of sin catch up with Dorian, but he is to be pitied. Guilt is real, but moral law and repentance is cast aside. And, in a truly terrible scene near the end of the book, as Dorian Gray is faced with the opportunity to repent as his friend (the voice of conscience) desperately begs him to pray, remembering Isaiah 1:18: “though your sins be as scarlet they will be white as snow,” Dorian refuses.

Some have said that The Picture of Dorian Gray is a sort of autobiography of Oscar Wilde. Perhaps that is true. It could be the autobiography of anyone. I hope, though, that someone spoke to Mr. Wilde about grace and mercy. All I could think as I read was that this is a “portrait” of the evil found within each one of us apart from Christ. It is a reflection of the horror of sin without the entrance of grace. Salvation by grace through faith alone and original sin is completely discarded in Dorian's world. But, for you and me, although iniquity seems endless, the grace of God is far greater. May we be quick to repent as we hear the gracious words: "though your sins be as scarlet they will be white as snow.”

Life cannot be made up of merely subjective experiences – for, it is only as my sinful heart is aligned with the Truth found in knowing Jesus and the Word of God that my emotions, my way of thinking and my subsequent actions are brought into "rightness." Pleasure is not my ultimate mean. Knowing Him and making him known, bringing honor to Him and delighting in the One who brings the greatest pleasure to my soul is. Funny – it’s only when we lose our lives that we find them.