Dorian Gray
05-31-01 | 02:42 AM
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Has anyone read this book? I have a test on it tomorrow and I've just read it over. I'm wondering if anyone can give me their opinions on the questions i'm posting in this thread because I believe the test will touch on these questions. Thank you.
1) ExplainhowBasil; Hallward is Dorians' "good angels" and Lord Henry is his "bad angel"
2) Why does lord henry deliberately set out to corrupt Dorian gray?
3) Why is it symbolic that lord henry and dorian gray have their first talk in a beautiful garden.
4) briefly summarize lord henry's philosophhy of life that so fascinates dorian
5) why, from the moment he paints it, does basil realize the picture is the "real" Dorian? How does the fact that the picture changes instead of Dorian bear this out.
6) Why does Sibyl Vane become a bad actress when she falls in love with Dorian?
7) Why does that make Dorian fall out of love with Sibyl?
8) What happens to Sibyl Vane and why does that affair start Dorian on the downward spiral to evil?
1) ExplainhowBasil; Hallward is Dorians' "good angels" and Lord Henry is his "bad angel"
2) Why does lord henry deliberately set out to corrupt Dorian gray?
3) Why is it symbolic that lord henry and dorian gray have their first talk in a beautiful garden.
4) briefly summarize lord henry's philosophhy of life that so fascinates dorian
5) why, from the moment he paints it, does basil realize the picture is the "real" Dorian? How does the fact that the picture changes instead of Dorian bear this out.
6) Why does Sibyl Vane become a bad actress when she falls in love with Dorian?
7) Why does that make Dorian fall out of love with Sibyl?
8) What happens to Sibyl Vane and why does that affair start Dorian on the downward spiral to evil?
05-31-01 | 08:22 AM
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From: Melbourne
Not especially good answers, but then again it’s been quite a while since a)I read the book, or b) I studied English.
1) Explain how Basil Hallward is Dorians' "good angels" and Lord Henry is his "bad angel"
Hallward is Dorians' "good angels" because he tries to dissuade Dorian from listening to Hallward, tries to destroy the painting, and so on.
Henry is his "bad angel" because he convinces that youth and beauty are the only things of consequence in life, and that they are worth giving up his soul for. He plays the major role in corrupting Dorian.
2) Why does lord Henry deliberately set out to corrupt Dorian gray? "
"Have you really a very bad influence, Lord Henry? As bad as Basil says?"
"There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral - immoral from the scientific point of view."
"Why?"
"Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. (etc etc etc)
3) Why is it symbolic that lord Henry and Dorian gray have their first talk in a beautiful garden. "
The garden symbolises natural beauty (clearly). In chapter one Lord Henry plucks a daisy, and proceeds to pull it apart, thus symbolising his role as a destroyer of beauty.
<Q4 W.I.P.
5) why, from the moment he paints it, does basil realize the picture is the "real" Dorian? How does the fact that the picture changes instead of Dorian bear this out. "
Hallward vows to destroy the painting when Dorian proclaims that that he would give his soul to remain young, and that he is jealous of the unaging portrait.
The picture changes instead of Dorian himself in keeping with Dorian’s Faustian deal, by which the painting ages while Dorian remains young.
Quotable quotes:
(Hallward) “The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."
How sad it is!" murmured Dorian Gray with his eyes still fixed upon his own portrait. "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that - for that - I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!"
The painter bit his lip and walked over, cup in hand, to the picture. "I shall stay with the real Dorian," he said, sadly.
"Is it the real Dorian?" cried the original of the portrait, strolling across to him. "Am I really like that?"
(Hallward) "Yes; you are just like that."
6) Why does Sibyl Vane become a bad actress when she falls in love with Dorian? "
Simply put, she becomes a bad actress because she realises that her acting is a pale imitation of the feelings that she feels for Dorian.
quotable quotes:
(Hallward)"Don't talk like that about any one you love, Dorian. Love is a more wonderful thing than art."
"They are both simply forms of imitation," remarked Lord Henry.
"Dorian, Dorian," she cried, "before I knew you, acting was the one
reality of my life. It was only in the theatre that I lived. I thought that it was all true.
I hate the stage. I might mimic a passion that I do not feel but I cannot mimic one that burns me like fire. Oh, Dorian, Dorian, you understand now what it signifies? Even if I could do it, it would be profanation for me to play at being in love. You have made me see that."
7) Why does that make Dorian fall out of love with Sibyl? "
Dorian wishes to marry Sybil Vane, but not because he is in love with her. Rather, he wishes to profit from her success as an actress. When she declares that her love from him has made her a bad actress, he loses interest in her because a marriage to her would not be profitable for him.
8) What happens to Sibyl Vane and why does that affair start Dorian on the downward spiral to evil? "
When Dorian returns home he notices that the painting had changed, and has a cruel expression on its face. Out of pity for his portrait he resolved to lead a pure life, to marry Sibyl and to have nothing more to do with Lord Henry.
However, after being spurned, Sibyl Vane killed herself. Lord Henry himself brings this news to Dorian, and consoles him on his loss, saying that to Dorian Sibyl was less real than the characters she played. Dorian quickly forgets his good resolutions, and thus begins his spiral down into evil.
[Edited by Hemulen on 05-31-01 at 06:24 AM]
1) Explain how Basil Hallward is Dorians' "good angels" and Lord Henry is his "bad angel"
Hallward is Dorians' "good angels" because he tries to dissuade Dorian from listening to Hallward, tries to destroy the painting, and so on.
Henry is his "bad angel" because he convinces that youth and beauty are the only things of consequence in life, and that they are worth giving up his soul for. He plays the major role in corrupting Dorian.
2) Why does lord Henry deliberately set out to corrupt Dorian gray? "
"Have you really a very bad influence, Lord Henry? As bad as Basil says?"
"There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral - immoral from the scientific point of view."
"Why?"
"Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. (etc etc etc)
3) Why is it symbolic that lord Henry and Dorian gray have their first talk in a beautiful garden. "
The garden symbolises natural beauty (clearly). In chapter one Lord Henry plucks a daisy, and proceeds to pull it apart, thus symbolising his role as a destroyer of beauty.
<Q4 W.I.P.
5) why, from the moment he paints it, does basil realize the picture is the "real" Dorian? How does the fact that the picture changes instead of Dorian bear this out. "
Hallward vows to destroy the painting when Dorian proclaims that that he would give his soul to remain young, and that he is jealous of the unaging portrait.
The picture changes instead of Dorian himself in keeping with Dorian’s Faustian deal, by which the painting ages while Dorian remains young.
Quotable quotes:
(Hallward) “The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."
How sad it is!" murmured Dorian Gray with his eyes still fixed upon his own portrait. "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that - for that - I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!"
The painter bit his lip and walked over, cup in hand, to the picture. "I shall stay with the real Dorian," he said, sadly.
"Is it the real Dorian?" cried the original of the portrait, strolling across to him. "Am I really like that?"
(Hallward) "Yes; you are just like that."
6) Why does Sibyl Vane become a bad actress when she falls in love with Dorian? "
Simply put, she becomes a bad actress because she realises that her acting is a pale imitation of the feelings that she feels for Dorian.
quotable quotes:
(Hallward)"Don't talk like that about any one you love, Dorian. Love is a more wonderful thing than art."
"They are both simply forms of imitation," remarked Lord Henry.
"Dorian, Dorian," she cried, "before I knew you, acting was the one
reality of my life. It was only in the theatre that I lived. I thought that it was all true.
I hate the stage. I might mimic a passion that I do not feel but I cannot mimic one that burns me like fire. Oh, Dorian, Dorian, you understand now what it signifies? Even if I could do it, it would be profanation for me to play at being in love. You have made me see that."
7) Why does that make Dorian fall out of love with Sibyl? "
Dorian wishes to marry Sybil Vane, but not because he is in love with her. Rather, he wishes to profit from her success as an actress. When she declares that her love from him has made her a bad actress, he loses interest in her because a marriage to her would not be profitable for him.
8) What happens to Sibyl Vane and why does that affair start Dorian on the downward spiral to evil? "
When Dorian returns home he notices that the painting had changed, and has a cruel expression on its face. Out of pity for his portrait he resolved to lead a pure life, to marry Sibyl and to have nothing more to do with Lord Henry.
However, after being spurned, Sibyl Vane killed herself. Lord Henry himself brings this news to Dorian, and consoles him on his loss, saying that to Dorian Sibyl was less real than the characters she played. Dorian quickly forgets his good resolutions, and thus begins his spiral down into evil.
[Edited by Hemulen on 05-31-01 at 06:24 AM]
06-28-01 | 03:19 AM
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How could anyone hate Dorian Gray? I always thought it was one of the more entertaining books I've read. See Goethe's Faust for a similar (and more significant) riff of a similar idea (The Faust concept, actually) that is much more frustrating to get through.
06-28-01 | 03:33 AM
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From: Melbourne
Originally posted by The Zizz
How could anyone hate Dorian Gray? I always thought it was one of the more entertaining books I've read.
How could anyone hate Dorian Gray? I always thought it was one of the more entertaining books I've read.
However, I'd also suggest that being "forced" to study something in great depth, and then having to answer any number of inane questions about it removes much of the enjoyment. YMMV
(Myself, I still hold grudges for being forced to write an essay about the use of leitmotif in the film "Millers Crossing" when I was at school...
Hemulen
06-28-01 | 03:38 AM
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Originally posted by Hemulen
However, I'd also suggest that being "forced" to study something in great depth, and then having to answer any number of inane questions about it removes much of the enjoyment. YMMV
Hemulen
Originally posted by The Zizz
How could anyone hate Dorian Gray? I always thought it was one of the more entertaining books I've read.
How could anyone hate Dorian Gray? I always thought it was one of the more entertaining books I've read.
However, I'd also suggest that being "forced" to study something in great depth, and then having to answer any number of inane questions about it removes much of the enjoyment. YMMV
Hemulen
06-28-01 | 03:57 AM
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Originally posted by The Zizz
Lame pun, but not a bad paper to write.
Lame pun, but not a bad paper to write.
"if at faust you don't succeed, try Eric" and so on.
Furthermore it tells you that the good intentions which are said to pave the road to hell are things like "I Meant It For The Best", "I Thought You'd Like It" and "For The Sake Of The Children"
Hemulen
"Demons have existed on the Discworld for at least as long as the gods, who in many cases they closely resemble. The difference is basically the same as that between terrorists and freedom fighters"
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