“Campbell felt dominated by him.” (203)
Dorian seems to have to show his inner evil in order to get Campell’s help. This whole time after killing Basil and coercing Campbell to help by blackmailing him just goes to show how right Basil was about not knowing who Dorian was anymore.
“‘ Let this be a warning to you not to take vengeance into your own hands'” (221)
Dorian felt as if Sibyl’s death was his fault, at first until Lord Henry poisoned his mind again. If Dorian was so broken up about Sibyl, he must have believed at one point that vengeance was justified. Not only did Dorian lie but he turned the guilt that belonged to him, on James. Is Dorian’s guilt finally catching up to him….
“‘ I always agree with Harry, Duchess,’ ‘Even when he is wrong?’ ‘Harry is never wrong, Duchess.’ (226)
I wonder where this blind allegiance can from with Dorian’s total faith in Lord Henry. Could it have been Dorian’s need for someone to tell him that he can do bad things and it is ok because he has beauty and power? Or, could it have been Dorian’s need for an excuse as to why he can do awful things to people? I wonder if he will blame Lord Henry when it all blows up in his face.
Dorian wanted to change and in this desire he wanted to kill the thing that reminded him of how horrible of a person he was/is. His beauty, which was so important to him, was saved by the portrait absorbing his age. But what I think the portrait was absorbing was his inner beauty deteriorating as he became ugly on the inside.
“His beauty, which was so important to him, was saved by the portrait absorbing his age. But what I think the portrait was absorbing was his inner beauty deteriorating as he became ugly on the inside.”
This is a completely different take on this topic than I even thought about and I really like it. I makes so much sense and explains why when Dorian kills Basil he felt an overwhelming disgust of Bail and urge/need to kill him when he looked at the portrait but never had that feeling before.
Also, I’ve seen different versions of this picture that you added but not that one specifically and I like it. It makes Dorian’s picture look even more grotesque and ugly than the ones I have seen.
Hi Paige! I love the insight you include with your entries. I like to see what you found interesting, and also how it connects to your thoughts. Most of the other entries I’ve read have been primarily focused on Dorian and his actions, but I love how you bring in a little commentary and criticism of Henry here. It seems that his dominance and power over Dorian cannot be forgotten when discussing this book. Great work!
Hey Paige!
Nice job with your entry for the week!
I like that you seemed to select quotes that all fit under the theme of “influence” and the power that certain characters (specifically Dorian and Henry) are able to wield over others. It’s interesting to see how Lord Henry’s ability to so strongly influence others has, by the end of the novel, eventually been “transferred” to Dorian so that he too can strongly impact the decisions of others and distort the views that others hold of him. It’s interesting to consider how impactful Dorian’s attractive physical appearance is in his ability to “put a spell” on others, and it made me think about how his “beauty” could be said to double as a “mask” that hides his inner “chaos” (his inner “ugliness” that is ultimately shown through the portrait). In that way, Dorian’s “beauty” can be likened to Dr. Jekyll’s conventional “respectability” (seen through his numerous credentials and position in the professional class of London) as a “mask” that hides his inner “badness”. This idea of “masks” and private and personal selves can also be seen in Jane Eyre, in that Jane’s outwardly calm and “proper” demeanor serves as an outward coating (or, “mask”) that conceals a “firey” and passionate inner-self (a self that is physically embodied through Jane’s “double”, Bertha).
Hi Paige!
Great entry for this week! I really enjoyed the quotes that you chose to look at and your thoughts on them. I thought it was great that all of the quotes connected to the journey that Dorian goes on in changing this character. I also thought about the influence that Lord Henry holds on Dorian and how much his words influenced Dorian’s actions. I think it has to do with the fact that Dorian being such a young impressionable individual that he will listen to everything Henry says because Dorian thinks so highly of Henry and his beliefs. Also this could stem from the fact that Dorian has never had any real parents to which he could form his views of who he should be. Lord Henry fills this void for Dorian. The image you chose of Dorian slashing his own painting was super vivid and really paints the picture of how Dorian did this.
Hi Paige! I also found it interesting that you talked about Henry. Their relationship is quite interesting after all. I think that it is important to note that Lord Henry seemingly never really carried out his philosophies o its true potential as Dorian did. In that sense he was just the instigator for Dorian’s actions. Just something to think about! Nice commonplace entry!
Hi Paige,
I really enjoyed your entry this week but was especially interested in the portrait you chose to use. This is one of the more gruesome portrayals of Dorain’s portrait that I have seen, and it is so interesting to view another person’s interpretation of the work. There is only so much the imagination can conjure up when reading a book like this, and it is a nice reminder that everyone interprets the literature they are immersing themselves in a little differently.