It is an exasperated search of appearing, but not only this, because the thing that has more importance is to look beautiful and perfect both in your being and in your doing.

Under Queen Victoria's reign took place an important industrial and technological development, for example in 1829 was invented steam locomotive and many others innovations that improved the lives of individuals.

However this scientific, industrial and technological progress brought an increase in poverty, crime and corruption.

A critique of Victorian morals was offered by Oscar Wilde in his novel entitled "The Picture of Dorian Gray".

The main character, Dorian, was innocent at first, but under Lord Hanry Watton's influence he becomes aware of his inestimable beauty, falling in love with it, and discovers something dark that leads him to sell his soul to devil in order to have an immortal beauty.

At this point he has reached his desire to appear forever young and beautiful so as to be easily accepted by society.

At the end of the novel, however, all his sins will lead him to his destruction.

We still see episodes in which the appearance dominates the being, also thanks to the spread of social media, which allows individuals to share a false image of themselves, overshadowing or even ignoring their true identity.

Finally you can say that, nowadays as in the past, people convince themselves to really be what others describe.

De Luisi Denise, Stefania Loconte VBU Liceo Bianchi Dottula - Bari