This reader response journal compares Ovid's Metamorphoses Book X on Pygmalion and the Statue with Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. The former is a narrative poem and an epic, while the latter is a work of gothic fiction. Pygmalion is granted his wish and successfully lives on with his wife and son, while Dorian Gray, on the other hand, loses himself in his granted desire and ultimately takes his own life. Both selections emphasize the dangers of superficial beauty.
Pygmalion’s disgust for the Propoetides (female prostitutes) led him to swear off women. Yet, despite his decision to remain celibate, why did he carve a woman if he disliked "the female heart"? And why was Venus so fond of Pygmalion that she granted him a woman resembling his statue? Upon reflection, it seems that Pygmalion may have pleased Venus by disapproving of the Propoetides' actions. It is also possible that Pygmalion, as an artist, knew how to appreciate beauty, which is why he was devoted to Venus. His carving may have represented the ideal woman in his eyes, and the statue became his companion—his pseudo-wife—ignoring the folly his artistic world had created for him.
In contrast, Dorian Gray was the subject of an eccentric artist's admiration, who idolized Dorian's beautiful face and immortalized it in a portrait. Encouraged by the hedonistic Lord Henry, Dorian Gray became consumed with his youth, to the point of wishing that his portrait would age while he remained untouched, exchanging his soul for this wish. What puzzles me is how Dorian's wish came true. He wished so fervently that it was heard—by whom? Most likely Lord Henry, as many critics of the story argue that Lord Henry is a manifestation of the devil, or at least his advocate. Dorian, young, fickle, and vain, fell prey to the aristocrat’s manipulation.
So, what do these selections mean? Beyond their temporal settings, they emphasize the peril of placing too much value on beauty and vanity, which ultimately leads to despair. Beauty can be seductive, but it can also be poisonous. Relating this to the present day, the Pygmalion myth could represent individuals who undergo cosmetic surgery to correct facial deformities, while the story of Dorian Gray could symbolize those who overindulge in plastic surgery to the point that they become unrecognizable.