"He would examine with minute care,and sometimes with a monstrous and terrible delight, the hideous lines that seared the wrinkled forehead or crawled around the heavy sensual mouth, wondering sometimes which were more horrible, the signs of sin or the signs of age. He would place his white hands beside the coarse hands of the picture, and smile. He mocked the misshapen body and the failing limbs."
Page 110
I chose this quote because it completes Dorian's soul's manifestation into something hideous. It plays a vital role in the novel because it is the end of the gray area- there is no more pretending that Dorian is still good somewhere in his heart. He has become so vain and pretentious that he sees his former self as an object to be ridiculed. Dorian's obsession with youth and beauty has reached a peak and is no longer a curiosity, but an obsession- as seen with his intense observation of his body. Dorian's narcissism has bought to life a dangerous flirtation with the ideas of eternity and immortality.
Wilde uses diction and parallelism in order to convey his meaning. Because Dorian was described as 'perfection' his mockery of his former self is an insult to perfection, and therefore God- as he is considered the creator of all things. The gruesomely detailed diction Wilde uses sets a tone that portrays Dorian's cynicism and obsession with himself as well as relays the dark aura that now captures Dorian's essence.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday December 21st
"What had Dorian Gray had to do with Sybil Vane's death? There was nothing to fear. Dorian Gray had not killed her." Page 106
This passage stands out because of the way it is syntactically set up and the use of formal diction. The awkward syntax conveys a guilty side to Dorian’s conscious which makes Sybil's death appear more as a murder than a suicide. This notion throws Harry into question as Dorian has an alibi. These sentences convey the side of Dorian that prevails when he is not seemingly under Harry's spell- showing that there is good hiding in dormancy underneath the selfish notions that he has picked up.
Wilde's use of syntax and diction make these sentences stand out. The repetition and formal use of his full name make a statement of guilt- though in thought not necessarily action. The short, curt sentences that follow the first also make it seem as though the narrator is trying to convince the reader of Dorian's complete innocence. Syntactically the second sentence actually foreshadows danger coming into the near future of Dorian Gray.
This passage stands out because of the way it is syntactically set up and the use of formal diction. The awkward syntax conveys a guilty side to Dorian’s conscious which makes Sybil's death appear more as a murder than a suicide. This notion throws Harry into question as Dorian has an alibi. These sentences convey the side of Dorian that prevails when he is not seemingly under Harry's spell- showing that there is good hiding in dormancy underneath the selfish notions that he has picked up.
Wilde's use of syntax and diction make these sentences stand out. The repetition and formal use of his full name make a statement of guilt- though in thought not necessarily action. The short, curt sentences that follow the first also make it seem as though the narrator is trying to convince the reader of Dorian's complete innocence. Syntactically the second sentence actually foreshadows danger coming into the near future of Dorian Gray.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday December 12th
"...-she acted badly because she had known the reality of love. When she knew its unreality, she died, as Juliet might have died. She passed again into the sphere of art. There is something of the martyr about her. Her death has all the pathetic uselessness of martyrdom, all its wasted beauty."
This passage is significant because it shows the completed change of Dorian's character. Lord Henry is Dorian's biggest influence, although he is a man of corruption and shallow views. He is now spitting out Lord Henry's words and personifying his ideals. In this passage Dorian is putting down the death of a girl he once loved and now cares little for because her acting went awry. It stresses Dorian's newfound need for society's approval and appearances while simultaneously changing many views on the novel’s protagonist.
Wilde mainly uses condescending diction in this passage to emphasize Dorian's change. Wilde also creates an air of pretentiousness around Dorian by having him reason that Sybil’s existence was metaphorical and therefore her death was meaningless and inconsequential. This mood affects the reader’s opinion of Dorian, changing it from empathy to shock and loathing. Wilde’s word choice in ‘wasted beauty’ also highlights his motif of appearances, beauty, youth and acceptance in society. The fact that Dorian describes it as a waste is further evidence that his values have changed.
This passage is significant because it shows the completed change of Dorian's character. Lord Henry is Dorian's biggest influence, although he is a man of corruption and shallow views. He is now spitting out Lord Henry's words and personifying his ideals. In this passage Dorian is putting down the death of a girl he once loved and now cares little for because her acting went awry. It stresses Dorian's newfound need for society's approval and appearances while simultaneously changing many views on the novel’s protagonist.
Wilde mainly uses condescending diction in this passage to emphasize Dorian's change. Wilde also creates an air of pretentiousness around Dorian by having him reason that Sybil’s existence was metaphorical and therefore her death was meaningless and inconsequential. This mood affects the reader’s opinion of Dorian, changing it from empathy to shock and loathing. Wilde’s word choice in ‘wasted beauty’ also highlights his motif of appearances, beauty, youth and acceptance in society. The fact that Dorian describes it as a waste is further evidence that his values have changed.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Monday December 8th
Dorian to Lord Henry-
"Her trust makes me faithful, her belief makes me good. When I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become different from what you have known me to be. I am changed, and the mere touch of Sibyl Vane's hand makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories."
This passage is quintessential in the development of Dorian's character throughout the novel. It is here that he finally declares his intellectual independence and establishes himself capable of making his own decisions. It also shows Dorian as struggling in his search for the perfect life. With his release from the grip of Lord Henry, Dorian has already attached himself to someone else in order to get through life which foreshadows his struggle to attain his own identity. It is apparent however, that Dorian's 'great love' is an infatuation, as made clear by the extreme exaggeration of his emotions which leads to a question of his future. In a previous chapter James Vane states that he will murder Dorian if he hurts his sister, and dramatic irony is created as it becomes clear to the reader that Dorian's feelings will soon fade.
However, Wilde uses paradoxical statements in order to create a sense of confusion. The description of Lord Henry's theories both enforces Dorian's independence and emphasizes the fact that Dorian has already incorporated them into his mindset. No matter what, it seems that Dorian can never be rid of Lord Henry's words, which hold a curious power over him. His exaggeration in describing his love for Sybil is also used by Wilde to convey Dorian as emotionally weak.
"Her trust makes me faithful, her belief makes me good. When I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become different from what you have known me to be. I am changed, and the mere touch of Sibyl Vane's hand makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories."
This passage is quintessential in the development of Dorian's character throughout the novel. It is here that he finally declares his intellectual independence and establishes himself capable of making his own decisions. It also shows Dorian as struggling in his search for the perfect life. With his release from the grip of Lord Henry, Dorian has already attached himself to someone else in order to get through life which foreshadows his struggle to attain his own identity. It is apparent however, that Dorian's 'great love' is an infatuation, as made clear by the extreme exaggeration of his emotions which leads to a question of his future. In a previous chapter James Vane states that he will murder Dorian if he hurts his sister, and dramatic irony is created as it becomes clear to the reader that Dorian's feelings will soon fade.
However, Wilde uses paradoxical statements in order to create a sense of confusion. The description of Lord Henry's theories both enforces Dorian's independence and emphasizes the fact that Dorian has already incorporated them into his mindset. No matter what, it seems that Dorian can never be rid of Lord Henry's words, which hold a curious power over him. His exaggeration in describing his love for Sybil is also used by Wilde to convey Dorian as emotionally weak.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Friday November 21
"To project one's soul into some gracious form, and let it tarry there for a moment; to hear one's own intellectual views echoed back to one with all the added music of passion and youth; to convey one's temperament into another as though it were a subtle fluid ..."
-PAGE 33
I chose this passage because it conveys several important points of the novel thus far. First and foremost Wilde uses Dorian as a vessel for youth and beauty, by which Basil and Lord Henry become engrossed. It portrays the storyline of the book as deep and complex, but dealing with shallow subject matter- which is ironic. Wilde goes into great depth about the 'realities' of being human, and the want for everlasting youth. This passage also reveals two important things about Lord Henry- that he values youth and appearance above all else, and that he is fixated on projecting these views into Dorian, therefore corrupting Dorian’s innocence.
Wilde uses syntax through semi-colons in order to connect each of Lord Henry's ideas- giving them a 'scheming' tone. He also uses personifies Henry's ideas in order to humanize them and make them appear less threatening, allowing the reader to accept Dorian’s corruption as an effort to be "awakened." Wilde's soft diction comes across as gentle- using many soft sounds he makes the whole corruption of Dorian a smooth coup.
-PAGE 33
I chose this passage because it conveys several important points of the novel thus far. First and foremost Wilde uses Dorian as a vessel for youth and beauty, by which Basil and Lord Henry become engrossed. It portrays the storyline of the book as deep and complex, but dealing with shallow subject matter- which is ironic. Wilde goes into great depth about the 'realities' of being human, and the want for everlasting youth. This passage also reveals two important things about Lord Henry- that he values youth and appearance above all else, and that he is fixated on projecting these views into Dorian, therefore corrupting Dorian’s innocence.
Wilde uses syntax through semi-colons in order to connect each of Lord Henry's ideas- giving them a 'scheming' tone. He also uses personifies Henry's ideas in order to humanize them and make them appear less threatening, allowing the reader to accept Dorian’s corruption as an effort to be "awakened." Wilde's soft diction comes across as gentle- using many soft sounds he makes the whole corruption of Dorian a smooth coup.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday November 14th
[on not meeting Dorian Gray]
"I'm very glad you didn't, Harry."
"Why?"
"I don't want you to meet him?"
"You don't want me to meet him?"
"No."
This excerpt is important to the story of Dorian Gray because it greatly dramatizes the man before he is even physically introduced into the story. This exchange shows the most powerful sides of the men- Basil's fatherly yet loving concern and Henry's drive and desire to gain what he has yet to. It also paints a angelic and almost God-like halo around Dorian- who is apparently worthy of keeping 'safe' from outside influences.
Wilde uses many literary and rhetorical devices in this passage. Using the juxtaposition between Lord Henry and Basil, he creates a two foil characters that serve as conflicting influences. Lord Henry for the worse, Basil for the better. The repetition of "meeting him" creates a worried tone in Basil and foreshadows Henry's corruption of Dorian's innocence. It also serves as irony of the situation when Dorian is announced in the next line.
"I'm very glad you didn't, Harry."
"Why?"
"I don't want you to meet him?"
"You don't want me to meet him?"
"No."
This excerpt is important to the story of Dorian Gray because it greatly dramatizes the man before he is even physically introduced into the story. This exchange shows the most powerful sides of the men- Basil's fatherly yet loving concern and Henry's drive and desire to gain what he has yet to. It also paints a angelic and almost God-like halo around Dorian- who is apparently worthy of keeping 'safe' from outside influences.
Wilde uses many literary and rhetorical devices in this passage. Using the juxtaposition between Lord Henry and Basil, he creates a two foil characters that serve as conflicting influences. Lord Henry for the worse, Basil for the better. The repetition of "meeting him" creates a worried tone in Basil and foreshadows Henry's corruption of Dorian's innocence. It also serves as irony of the situation when Dorian is announced in the next line.
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