Dorian Gray Narcissism

Considered a part of the three dark traids of personality by psychologists, Narcissism (others being psychopathy and machiavellianism), is characterized by excessive self-obsession especially in lieu of one’s physical appearance. The term has roots in the Greek myth of Narcissus, as told by Ovid in The Metamorphoses. Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water and eventually this lead to his demise, along with his patrons. Similarly The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde is a story about physical beauty and the power that it can have with its protagonist, Dorian Gray being a narcissistic. The novel is an adaptation of the myth of Narcissus as they have similar plots, both including extreme accounts of vanity, love, death,
She, having been cursed by Hera can only mimic the last words said by someone else. So she follows Narcissus around,waiting for him to say something. When he is separated from his group of hunters, Echo reveals her presence to him. He beguiles her by exclaiming “Come here and let us get together!” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 331). Repeating his words she emerges out of the woods and pursues him. He spurs her in response by telling her that he “would die before (he) lets (her) possess (him)” (Morford et al. 2014, p.332). After enticing her, his rejection wounds Echo and consequently “her voice and bones (tuned to stones) were all that was left” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 332). Narcissus “played with her” (Morford et al. 2014, p. 332) and led to her disappearance. Parallel to the myth of the Echo and Narcissus is the relationship of Dorian and Sibyl Vane. The only difference being that when Dorian first glimpses Sibyl, playing the part of Juliet on stage in the play Romeo and Juliet, he falls in love with her. Like Echo, Sibyl only mimics the chracters of the play. When Lond Herny questions Dorian " when is she Sibyl Vane?", Dorian says "Never"(Wilde, 2004, p.42). He pronounces to his friend and confidant Lord Henry that he “loves her, and (he) must make her love (him)” (Wilde, 2004, p.42). But after he confirms Sibyl’s love for himself and is engaged to her, he cruelly rejects her. He calls her “stupid
In response Narcissus sends a sword to him and Ameinias, in some accounts is said to have prayed to the gods to avenge him before he slays himself on Narcissus’s doorstep. A comparable character by the name of Basil Hallward can be observed in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Basil is the painter who made Dorian’s portrait. His infatuation with Dorian forces him to see through rose colored glasses as is suggested when he says “But you, Dorian, with your pure, bright, innocent face, and your marvelous untroubled youth-I can’t believe anything against you” (Wilde, 2004, p. 120). Dorian after showing Basil the corrupted portrait stabs him. And later blackmails a chemist to burn the body in nitric acid. Thus Both Ameinias and Basil die through their love interest’s