As the novel continues, Dorian Gray's personality and outlook on the world continues to change. He is greatly influenced by his relationship with Lord Henry, and his new self resembles Lord Henry. After Basil confesses his love for the young man, Dorian responds, "That is not even a compliment [...] It was a very disappointing confession" (85). Basil just revealed his most intimate secret to Dorian, and the young man's response lacks sensitivity. Dorian knows that he does not and could never worship Basil in the way in which Basil worships him, but he does not consider the painter's feelings when he tells him what he feels. He says, "You mustn't talk about worship. It is foolish. You and I are friends, Basil and we must always remain so" (85). Similarly to Lord Henry, Dorian does not care about others. He is self centered and self indulgent, which is why he calls Basil foolish for sharing his feelings. Dorian does not care how he makes his friend feel because it does not affect him.
After the painter leaves, Dorian reflects on the differences in his friendships with Basil and Lord Henry. He admits, "Basil would have helped him resist Lord Henry's influence," (87) displaying that he understands that Lord Henry is detrimental to his morality. Dorian knows that Basil is a morally better person and that the painter cares more for him than Lord Henry, but he values his friendship with Lord Henry far more because Lord Henry has more to offer. Although he has become a worse person from his relationship with Lord Henry, he enjoys the intellectual thought that spurns from his discussions with Lord Henry. Basil only serves to worship Dorian and make the young man even more vane. Before Lord Henry's influence, Dorian would have been satisfied with Basil's attention, but now he needs more from a friendship, which is why he prefers Lord Henry over Basil.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The Picture of Dorian Gray #1
Dorian Gray is first introduced when he sits for Basil's portrait. Basil is obviously infatuated with Dorian's presence, and Dorian clearly loves the attention. The young man understands the extent of the artist's care for him, and he uses this knowledge to make Basil give him what he wants. When Lord Henry announces his departure, Dorian threatens to leave in order to make Basil ask Lord Henry to stay: "If Lord Henry Wotton goes I shall go too" (12). Dorian displays his skills in manipulation though his exchange with Basil. He is interested in getting what he want and does not care how it makes Basil feel. Basil enjoys their alone time, which is why he wants Lord Henry to leave, but Dorian wants to spend time with Lord Henry because he is intrigued by his character.
After Basil finishes the portrait of Dorian, the young man has an emotional episode at the sight of the painting. He is influence by Lord Henry's rant about growing old. At the sight of the portrait Dorian says, "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young" (19). Dorian is upset because he greatly values his appearance. He receives praise and admiration stemming from his appearance, which is why he is affected by the thought of losing his good looks. Although Dorian is blatantly vain, his reaction to the painting stemms from the beliefs of Lord Henry, showing that he is easily influenced.
When Dorian Gray announces his engagement to Sibyl Vane, it appears as though he has become a less self-obsessed character. When discussing his fiance with Basil and Lord Henry, Dorian raves about his new love: "She had all the delicate grace of that Tanagra figurine that you have in your studio, Basil. Her hair clustered round her face like dark leaves round a pale rose. As for her acting- well, you shall see her to-night. She is simply a born artist" (55). Dorian's infatuation with Sibyl contrasts his previously displayed vanity and self-obsession. Rather than accepting praise from others, Dorian is granting praise to someone else. Dorian shows that he cares about another person, which contrasts his previous treatment of Basil. The young man's love for the young actress makes him appear less selfish.
Although Dorian appears to be taking steps towards a more selfless life, he directly contrasts his pronounced love for Sibyl Vane when he breaks her heart after her poor acting display, After Lord Henry comments on Sibyl's terrible acting, Dorian goes backstage to speak with her. After discovering she is not ill, he speak cruelly to the young woman: "You have killed my love. You used to stir my imagination, Now you don't even stir my curiosity" (63). Sibyl's previously wonderful acting made Dorian fall in love with her, which is why he is so upset that she is unable to perform gloriously. Additionally, he is embarrassed that Sibyl fell short of expectations in front of his friends. He irrationally breaks the engagement because he is offended by her poor acting. He is cruel to the young woman because he suddenly decides not to love her anymore because of his selfish mindset. Dorian decides that Sibyl is not good enough for him, blatantly displaying his shallowness.
After Basil finishes the portrait of Dorian, the young man has an emotional episode at the sight of the painting. He is influence by Lord Henry's rant about growing old. At the sight of the portrait Dorian says, "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young" (19). Dorian is upset because he greatly values his appearance. He receives praise and admiration stemming from his appearance, which is why he is affected by the thought of losing his good looks. Although Dorian is blatantly vain, his reaction to the painting stemms from the beliefs of Lord Henry, showing that he is easily influenced.
When Dorian Gray announces his engagement to Sibyl Vane, it appears as though he has become a less self-obsessed character. When discussing his fiance with Basil and Lord Henry, Dorian raves about his new love: "She had all the delicate grace of that Tanagra figurine that you have in your studio, Basil. Her hair clustered round her face like dark leaves round a pale rose. As for her acting- well, you shall see her to-night. She is simply a born artist" (55). Dorian's infatuation with Sibyl contrasts his previously displayed vanity and self-obsession. Rather than accepting praise from others, Dorian is granting praise to someone else. Dorian shows that he cares about another person, which contrasts his previous treatment of Basil. The young man's love for the young actress makes him appear less selfish.
Although Dorian appears to be taking steps towards a more selfless life, he directly contrasts his pronounced love for Sibyl Vane when he breaks her heart after her poor acting display, After Lord Henry comments on Sibyl's terrible acting, Dorian goes backstage to speak with her. After discovering she is not ill, he speak cruelly to the young woman: "You have killed my love. You used to stir my imagination, Now you don't even stir my curiosity" (63). Sibyl's previously wonderful acting made Dorian fall in love with her, which is why he is so upset that she is unable to perform gloriously. Additionally, he is embarrassed that Sibyl fell short of expectations in front of his friends. He irrationally breaks the engagement because he is offended by her poor acting. He is cruel to the young woman because he suddenly decides not to love her anymore because of his selfish mindset. Dorian decides that Sibyl is not good enough for him, blatantly displaying his shallowness.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Sound & Sense Chapter 9
Thesis: Each poem questions the creation of life, but each poem's inquiry focuses on the nature of each animal, which causes great contrast between the theories of creation.
The nature of each suggested creation stems from the nature of each animal. Lambs are known to be soft and gentle creatures, which is why attributes of a lamb are included in the poem. The speaker addresses a lambs "clothing of delight" (5) and "tender voice" (7) to express the gentility of a lamb. The inclusion of attributes of the lamb explain the proposed creation of the animal. Because lambs are gentle creatures, their proposed creation is gentle and nurturing. The gentility of a lamb directly contrasts the ferocity of a tiger. Rather than a nurturing creation, The Tiger suggests a birth from hard work and manual labor. The tiger is known for its speed and its wit, which is why the speaker asks questions addressing these attributes: "What dread hand forged thy dread feet? [...] In what furnace was thy brain?" (12-14). The insincerity of the tiger's suggested creation offers explanation for the tiger's vicious nature. The poems suggest that the animals' creations were vastly different because their animalistic natures are vastly different.
Throughout The Lamb, the speaker directly addresses the lamb and asks, "Who made thee" (1,2,9,10). The speaker feels comfortable with the lamb and wishes to discuss its peaceful creation. The speaker feels an obvious fondness for the lamb that stems from its gentle nature, which is why the tone throughout the poem is light-hearted and friendly. The Tiger has a fearful tone throughout the poem, directly contrasting that of The Lamb. At the end of the poem the speaker asks the tiger, "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?" (20). This question resembles the question for the lamb, but unlike in The Lamb, this question is only asked once in The Tiger. The speaker does not appear to be direct with the tiger, suggesting intimidation. Unlike the fondness expressed towards the lamb, the speaker is hesitant to address the tiger because of its ferocity.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Home Burial Analysis
Thesis: The husband and wife's relationship has been damaged by the death of their first born child. The strain on their relationship stems from each spouse's inability to understand the other's method of grieving.
The poem begins with the wife visibly bothered by something she has just seen. The husband tries to make her share the source of her distress but she refuses: "She, in her place, refused him any help/With the least stiffening of her neck and silence." The husband quickly decodes her silence and realizes that she is bothered by their child's grave outside of the window. The wife's silence shows that she is not willing to face and accept her child's death. The home grave is an everyday reminder of her loss and she has difficulty coping with her grief. Unlike his wife, the husband is willing to face the death of his child. After realizing the source of his wife's silence, he tries to express his feelings about the grave: "The wonder is I didn't see at once./I never noticed it from here before./I must be wonted to it-that's the reason." The husband explains that the sight of his child's grave does not bother him because he is used to seeing it everyday. He has grown so accustomed to seeing the reminder of his son's death that he does not notice it immediately any more. The husband and wife have opposite reactions and feelings towards the grave, which initially introduces the strain in their relationship. The wife does not like to discuss her child's death, but she is constantly reminded by the relic in her yard. The husband is willing to talk about his personal loss, but he does not typically notice the grave outside of his house. Each spouse has difficulty understanding the other's reaction to the grave and their child's death, providing explanation for the strain in their relationship.
Although both parents feel sorrow from their child's death, they do not sympathize with how the other mourns. In the poem, both spouses express their disapproval of the other's method of mourning. When the husband expresses that he is willing to work on their communication issues, he displays his disapproval of his wife's reaction to their child's grave. He says, "I do think, though, you overdo it a little." Although the husband appears to want to fix his strained relationship, he is not willing to sympathize with his wife's coping methods. As a reaction to her husband's comment, the wife expresses her disapproval of her husband's rection to their son's death. She shouts, "You couldn't care!" because her husband does not display outward sorrow over the loss of their child. She cannot understand why he is not as emotional as she, and she is deeply bothered by his acceptance of their son's death. Although the spouses are simply mourning in their own way, each refuses to accept and sympathize with the other's method. Because each is not willing to understand the other, their relationship suffers.
The poem begins with the wife visibly bothered by something she has just seen. The husband tries to make her share the source of her distress but she refuses: "She, in her place, refused him any help/With the least stiffening of her neck and silence." The husband quickly decodes her silence and realizes that she is bothered by their child's grave outside of the window. The wife's silence shows that she is not willing to face and accept her child's death. The home grave is an everyday reminder of her loss and she has difficulty coping with her grief. Unlike his wife, the husband is willing to face the death of his child. After realizing the source of his wife's silence, he tries to express his feelings about the grave: "The wonder is I didn't see at once./I never noticed it from here before./I must be wonted to it-that's the reason." The husband explains that the sight of his child's grave does not bother him because he is used to seeing it everyday. He has grown so accustomed to seeing the reminder of his son's death that he does not notice it immediately any more. The husband and wife have opposite reactions and feelings towards the grave, which initially introduces the strain in their relationship. The wife does not like to discuss her child's death, but she is constantly reminded by the relic in her yard. The husband is willing to talk about his personal loss, but he does not typically notice the grave outside of his house. Each spouse has difficulty understanding the other's reaction to the grave and their child's death, providing explanation for the strain in their relationship.
Although both parents feel sorrow from their child's death, they do not sympathize with how the other mourns. In the poem, both spouses express their disapproval of the other's method of mourning. When the husband expresses that he is willing to work on their communication issues, he displays his disapproval of his wife's reaction to their child's grave. He says, "I do think, though, you overdo it a little." Although the husband appears to want to fix his strained relationship, he is not willing to sympathize with his wife's coping methods. As a reaction to her husband's comment, the wife expresses her disapproval of her husband's rection to their son's death. She shouts, "You couldn't care!" because her husband does not display outward sorrow over the loss of their child. She cannot understand why he is not as emotional as she, and she is deeply bothered by his acceptance of their son's death. Although the spouses are simply mourning in their own way, each refuses to accept and sympathize with the other's method. Because each is not willing to understand the other, their relationship suffers.
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Stranger Opening Paragraphs Analysis
The opening paragraphs of The Stranger serve as a synecdoche for the text as a whole. The opening sentence of the novel is, "Maman died today" (3), presented casually and without feeling or care. The initial introduction of the protagonist presents Meursault as an insensitive character lacking emotion. As he continues to explain the circumstances of his mother's death, he is unaware of when his mother actually died: "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know" (3). As the son of someone who recently passed, it would be expected that Meursault knows all the facts surrounding his mother's passing. The way in which he delivers the news of his personal tragedy shows that he does not know the simple facts of his mother's death, and he does not appear to care. Throughout the novel Meursault does not care about most things, including the senseless murder he commits. His lack of emotion in reaction to his mother's death introduces the self interested nature of Meursault. He is not bothered by the loss of his mother because it does not affect him in any way. Meursault only cares about himself throughout the novel, which is why he lacks emotion or care for almost everything.
Throughout the novel Meursault is extremely judgmental of other characters. He consistently comments on the appearances and actions of those around him, but he fails to reflect personally. In the opening paragraphs he describes his interaction with his boss when asking for time off to attend his mother's funeral: "I asked my boss for two days off [...] He wasn't too happy about it. I even said, 'It's not my fault.' He didn't say anything. Then I thought I shouldn't have said that. After all, I didn't have anything to apologize for. He's the one who should have offered his condolences" (3). Meursault notes the fault of his boss for not offering his condolences, but Meursault fails to see his own faults in his inappropriate reaction to his mother's death. Meursault is quick to comment on another character's social misconduct, but he fails to see his own. Throughout the novel Meursault refuses to acknowledge his own social abnormalities, while continuously commenting on the faults of others.
Throughout the novel Meursault is extremely judgmental of other characters. He consistently comments on the appearances and actions of those around him, but he fails to reflect personally. In the opening paragraphs he describes his interaction with his boss when asking for time off to attend his mother's funeral: "I asked my boss for two days off [...] He wasn't too happy about it. I even said, 'It's not my fault.' He didn't say anything. Then I thought I shouldn't have said that. After all, I didn't have anything to apologize for. He's the one who should have offered his condolences" (3). Meursault notes the fault of his boss for not offering his condolences, but Meursault fails to see his own faults in his inappropriate reaction to his mother's death. Meursault is quick to comment on another character's social misconduct, but he fails to see his own. Throughout the novel Meursault refuses to acknowledge his own social abnormalities, while continuously commenting on the faults of others.
Friday, February 7, 2014
The Stanger #2
Throughout the second book of The Stranger there are several references to heat and the sun that offer potential explanation for Meursault's senseless murder. When Meursault is being questioned, he is asked why he paused before firing additional shots. Rather than responding, Meursault flashes back to the beach and explains his thoughts: "Once again I could see the red sand and feel the burning of the sun on my forehead" (67). Although he does not provide explanation for his excessive firing, it is clear that heat of the beach contributed to his lack of judgement. The inclusion of "red sand" and the use of "burning" provides a troubled connotation, suggesting that Meursault was greatly bothered by his discomfort cause by the heat. Irritated by the temperature, Meursault is more likely to make rash decisions and to take unjustified actions. Although annoyance with the heat provides little justification for murder, Meursault's reaction to high temperatures can provide some explanation for his murderous actions.
As questioning continues, Meursault expresses his impatience and directly connects his irritation back to the temperature. After being asked a question about his belief in God, Meursault explains, "I had had enough. It was getting hotter and hotter" (69). Similarly to the murder on the beach, Meursault is bothered by his discomfort caused by the temperature. He becomes irritated with the questions he is being asked and he does not want to continue the questioning. Meursault's reaction to the heat displays his lack of patience with the weather. Meursault attempts to speed up his questioning by mindlessly agreeing with his questioner about religion in order to end his discomfort. Meursault strongly disagrees with religion and the belief in God and his affirmation of the questioner's belief displays his desperation to escape his discomfort from the heat. Although he quickly corrects his agreement and expresses his impiousness, he previously agreed to the belief in God out of desperation. Meursault wanted to escape his discomfort, and he did not think about what he was doing before he acted. Meursault's behavior while being questioned parallels his rash behavior on the beach.
The Stranger #3
As The Stranger comes to an end, several themes of existentialism are illustrated through the thoughts of the protagonist. In a meeting with the prosecutor and his lawyer, Meursault is excluded from conversations about his case. Expressing his feelings about his exclusion, Meursault explains, "In a way, they seemed to be arguing the case as if it had nothing to do with me. Everything was happening without my participation. My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking my opinion" (98). Although existentialism rejects the idea of fate, it focuses on the idea that people are punished for the decisions they make. Meursault made the decision to senselessly kill a man and he has no control over the punishment he will receive. The universe does not care for humanity according to existentialism, and in Meursault's case, the lawyers do not actually care what happens to him. Meursault made a bad decision and according to existentialism, he must be punished for his actions.
After Meursault loses patience with the priest, he takes time to reflect on life: "I had lived my life one way and I could just as well have lived it another. I had done this and I hadn't done that. I hadn't done this thing but I had done another" (121). Meursault's reflection highlights main ideas of existentialism. Life is full of decisions and people are punished for the decisions they make. Humanity is punished for all the decisions, paving the lives of people. Although people have free will to make their own decisions, they cannot control what punishments they receive. Meursault understands that he had the power to make his own decisions, but all of his decisions wouldn't change anything. He would eventually be punished the same in the end.
After Meursault loses patience with the priest, he takes time to reflect on life: "I had lived my life one way and I could just as well have lived it another. I had done this and I hadn't done that. I hadn't done this thing but I had done another" (121). Meursault's reflection highlights main ideas of existentialism. Life is full of decisions and people are punished for the decisions they make. Humanity is punished for all the decisions, paving the lives of people. Although people have free will to make their own decisions, they cannot control what punishments they receive. Meursault understands that he had the power to make his own decisions, but all of his decisions wouldn't change anything. He would eventually be punished the same in the end.
Monday, February 3, 2014
The Stranger #1
In the first book of The Stranger, Albert Camus introduces the seemingly unenthusiastic character of Meursault. The Stranger opens with Meursault reflecting on the recent death of his mother. Rather than being openly upset by his mother's death, he is more concerned about the time he had to take off from work to attend the funeral: "I asked my boss for two days off and there was no way he was going to refuse me with an excuse like that" (3). The use of "excuse" rather than "tragedy" (or something similar) makes it seem like Meursault does not care that his mother died. It seems that he views his personal loss simply as an excuse to get out of work. Throughout the first chapter Meursault lacks sensitivity on many occasions. At his mother's vigil, he grows annoyed with his mother's friend: "Soon one of the women started crying. [...] I thought she'd never stop. [...] I wish I didn't have to listen to her anymore. [...] She finally shut up" (11). Meursault is annoyed with the woman because he cannot understand her hysterics. He is not upset himself, so he is not willing to accept someone else's devestation. In his mind, his mother's death did not change anything. Meursault did not go to visit his mother often, and her permanent absence will not affect his life greatly.
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