"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.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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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