Jane Eyre Historic Analysis

Jane Eyre is often considered by readers to be the black sheep of the Victorian Era due to her assertive tendencies. However, upon closer examination, one would find that Jane fits the character of a Victorian woman quite accurately. The ideal woman of the Victorian Era was to be a sufficiently-educated Lady of the House. Jane is the portrait of this description. The only thing that separates Jane from the ideal woman of the Victorian era is that she is vocal about her thoughts in the company of men. However, even this trait seems to gradually fade as the story progresses, with Jane becoming more reserved. The only point in the novel in which Jane is truly the antithesis of a Victorian woman is when she is a child. That is especially interesting, as children in the Victorian era were expected to be seen and not heard, yet Jane, a female child, was vocal and outspoken. As she grows up and is put through the schooling process that girls were administered during the Victorian era, her outspoken tendencies become more and more infrequent. She even goes as far as to pursue an occupation that exemplified the ideal Victorian woman. Jane is given a job as a governess, and occupation that was reserved for upper class women in the Victorian Era. While Jane would not truly be considered "upper class" by Victorian standards, she earns the job by her merits. This seems to be a contradiction of Victorian traditions, meaning that Jane Eyre possibly takes place during the Victorian Era's transitional period.

Intertextual Frankenstein Analysis

The character of Victor Frankenstein directly parallels Chis McCandless, main character of Into the Wild, in many ways. Both Chis and Frankenstein isolate themselves from the people around them in order to pursue their goals. Into the Wild and Frankenstein share the theme of characters becoming obsessed with their purpose to the point where nothing else matters to them. This leads to the characters forgetting what is truly important and thus destroying themselves. Despite the fact that Frankenstein and Chris both become equally obsessed with achieving their goals, the goals they are attempting to achieve are the antithesis of each other. While Chris rejects all technology in order to engulf himself in nature, Frankenstein rejects all nature to engulf himself in technology. Chis comes to take on the archetypal role of the "survivor-man". while Frankenstein comes to take on the role of a "mad scientist". A philosophy portrayed in both Frankenstein and Into the Wild is that technology carries with it a destructive nature. Chris' dependence on technology leads him to be unable to survive without it on account of his not having the knowledge of how to live without it, while Frankenstein's obsession with technology and advancement causes him to lose his senses and forget about his health and the world around him. Chris' dependence on technology costs him his life, as he so greatly isolated himself that there was no one to save him when he was in need. Frankenstein, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to be saved by Henry early enough that he ended up ill rather than dead; "This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for many months"(Shelley 38). The fact that Frankenstein was saved by human contact supports the universal truth that humans need others to survive. A motif found in both Frankenstein and Into the Wild is the need to feel strong. Chris combats the forces of nature to help him feel strong, while Frankenstein devotes himself to creating a perfect race to help him feel strong. Both characters let their egos get in the way and undertake their journeys completely alone, dooming them when their plans go awry.

Feminist Response

Many believe Chaucer was a chauvinist due to the way he chose to portray Emily and other women in The Knights Tale. However, if one were to look at his writings from a historical perspective, they'd find that his portrayal of women merely mimicked the writings and customs of the time period in which The Knight's Tale takes place. The story takes place in Athens, in which women were expected to be controlled by men all their lives. It was an Athenian custom that women were to serve their father and brothers before they were married and to serve their husbands during their marriage and in the afterlife. If a woman was born to an important family, they were to be betrothed by an early age or else the family would be dishonored. Despite being related to royalty(even loosely related), Emily was not swiftly sold to the highest bidder. In fact, Theseus showed no intention of betrothing Emily until suitors actually came to him. If anything, Chaucer's portrayal of Emily is progressive. He showed that women could actually be free-thinkers despite having to live their lives as servants. Chaucer may have even inserted Emily's proclamations of woe as a way to show why such customs are immoral. The Knight's Tale was written before any Women's Rights movements had surfaced. It is only natural that women take a subservient role in Chaucer's writings, as that was the custom of the time. Women simply did not take on a dominant role in the writing of those times because they were not expected to in real life, and thus never did. One must also note that Palamon, who prayed to Venus, was the one to marry Emily. This is significant because Venus was a goddess with feminine attributes. Arcite, on the other hand, prays to Mars, a god with masculine attributes, and fails to achieve his ultimate goal. Thus, Chaucer showed the strengh of feminine qualities over masculine qualities.

Ideal Society 2

No changes have been made to my society due to the fact that I found nobody in another's society who I felt was worth trading for. That is not to say that everyone else's choices were poor. Rather, it means that my society was perfect for me and their societies were perfect for them. Quite honestly, if there was someone I felt was more deserving of a spot in my society than someone who was already in there, they would have been a part of my society in the first place. My society works out because each member has their own set of beliefs and dreams, which all seem to revolve around the possibility of objective happiness. Each member is also powerful in some way, whether it be from their influential words or their ability to warp reality. This allows the members to eliminate all threats to their happiness. One possible flaw in my society is that there could be a power struggle should a member be denied the happiness that they are owed, or if one member's happiness conflicts with the happiness of another. This is only a possible flaw because each member of the society has their own idea of how their happiness can be achieved, but do not see fit to use others in their plans of achieving such happiness. Rather, they all know and rely on their own strengths to chase after their dreams. Each member can work with others, but it content being by his/herself. This means that no member of the society will seek to influence others, and will only share their opinions on a subject when asked to do so. Jareth, being a master of dreams, can easily make the dreams of each member of the society come true without conflicting with the dreams of other members. There is peace in such a society, making it stable.

Ideal Society

The members of my ideal society are Jareth, George Carlin, Sekhmet, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and Ramona Flowers. Jareth, from the movie Labyrinth , was chosen to be the leader because he is the Goblin King of the Labyrinth, and has a great deal of experience in ruling having done it for thousands of years. He has the power to make dreams a reality and warp dimensions, and is thus able to create the perfect society for the five members to live in. He is a dreamer who deals in the dreams of others, making him able to constantly improve the society. George Carlin was chosen because he is a phenomenal comedian and social critic. He inspired many people to become comedians, including Chris Rock, Lewis Black, and Sam Kinison, which shows his ability to spread and appreciation of comedy to others. He never takes anything at face value, which ensures that he will be quick to point out any flaws in the society so that they may be fixed. Sekhmet was chosen because she is the Egyptian Goddess of warfare, the hunt, the wilds, protection, sexuality, the desert sun, magicians, physicians, etc. She is known as the Protector of Pharaohs and can both cause and relieve the greatest of agonies, making her the perfect warrior and healer. She is also motherly towards those she protects and strives to ensure their happiness. Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show was chosen because of his extensive knowledge in the field of science. He is able to create human life within just seven days, and has a great deal of knowledge of multiple galaxies. He also has access to the technology of multiple planets, which will aid the advancement of the society. Ramona Flowers the Scott Pilgrim book series was chosen because of her ability to travel through subspace, making her able to move from one place to another quickly and even enter the dreams of others. She is also able to store items and subspace, and thus protect items from theft. This makes her the ideal banker and laborer for the society. My society values dreams, advancement, and good times. Each member of my society contributes to making the society a paradise, whether it be by protecting the society from outside harm or improving it from within.

Essential Question # 5

The Code of Courtly Love

1) Two people must first be acquaintances, then friends, before finally attempting a romantic relationship. It is improper to force yourself on another person, and no one should enter a relationship expecting it to be romantic. If it is to be, the romantic relationship will come naturally.

2) The initiator of the relationship should be the male. However, the female is allowed to attempt to initiate the relationship should she feel it necessary(No rushing things, though).

3) The two people must tell their friends and family of their significant other within a week of recognizing their romantic relationship. This revelation must take place in person.

4) The two people must introduce their friends and family to their significant other within a month of recognizing their romantic relationship.

5) When the two people feel mutually ready, they should plan a date in an area that interests them both. This allows them both to behave comfortably and naturally. The initiator of said date does not matter.

6) While on a date that requires money, the person who initiated the date should be expected to pay. However, the male should be expected to at least offer to pay for the date regardless of whether or not he offered. The couple splitting the cost is also acceptable.(In the case of a homosexual or lesbian couple, the buyer can be decided amongst themselves).

7) Once a couple feels comfortable enough with each other, one of them can plan a date with the other in a surprise location that they feel their significant other would enjoy. The initiator of these dates must pay close attention to the reaction of their significant other once they arrive at their destination in order to be sure that their date is enjoying themselves, and be prepared to leave should their significant other become uncomfortable. The initiator of these dates does not matter.

8) Either of the two people in a romantic relationship are allowed to initiate the first kiss. Should the other not be ready, the initiator is required to stop immediately out of respect. The one who refused should explain their reasons for not feeling ready and forgive the other for trying to kiss them. Try to make such an awkward situation as comfortable as possible, for it could save the relationship.

9) Both individuals in a romantic relationship should readily compliment the other on their appealing qualities, and avoid using malicious insults.

10) Once the two people are comfortable with each other, they should plan a formal date in which friends or family is present. The initiator of this date should be whoever has such an opportunity available.

Essential Question # 4

Simplify and analyze Hrothgar's parting words to Beowulf from line 1708-1767.

In his parting words to Beowulf, Hrothgar warns Beowulf to learn the nature of nobility and give thanks to God. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that noble man will go through life without being harmed until he falls victim to the devil's temptations. Once a man gives in to sin, they are filled with a feeling of greed and wanting; "What had long contented him now seems insufficient; he becomes embittered, begins to hoard his treasures, never parts with gold rings in ceremonial splendor; he soon forgets his destiny and disregards the honors given him of God, the Ruler of Glory"(1732-1737). It is fitting that Hrothgar is the one to give Beowulf this advice, as it was he himself who had originally taken up a life of greed and fallen into the "Devil's" clutches. This is a lesson that Beowulf has, or should have, already learned by now after his encounter with Grendel's mother. Hrothgar's speech may merely serve as a way that the author can convey the reason why Beowulf had difficulty in defeating Grendel's mother to the reader. Hrothgar's speech also serves as an explanation that those who turn away from God are filled with greed out of a need for compensation, as a life without God is empty. Hrothgar then tells Beowulf to always swallow pride, as the glories he will achieve in life will not be as worthwhile as his reward in heaven. Hrothgar reminds Beowulf that all men eventually die, and advises him to focus less on his own glory and more giving glory to God.

Essential Question # 3

How is Wealhtheow portrayed? What does she do? What can we expect from Anglo Saxon women?

Wealhtheow is portrayed as a hostess to the men in Heorot during feasts. She offers a cup Hrothgar, her husband, begging him to enjoy the feast, and then procedes to offer the cup to every man in Heorot. It acts as if it is her responsibility to make the feast enjoyable, and would feel shamed if any man found her to be less than satisfactory. She is described as mindful of ceremonial, which shows that she is entirely submissive to the customs of her kingdom. This would not be an odd trait, if not for the fact that as queen, Heorot is literally her kingdom. She should be the one making the customs, not acting them out. Despite being a queen, Wealhtheow behaves like a servant. Rather than living up to her title as queen, which means a woman sovereign, she lives up to her name, which means foreign slave. While she is serving the men of Heorot, she is described as "excellent in mind", showing that the standards of her time were not only that women had to serve men, but also that they had to enjoy doing so. Some might interpret her behavior as merely polite and considerate. However, she is clearly nothing more than a servant. Even though she is the one bearing the cup, not once does it touch her lips. She gives every man what their share, and chooses not to take what is left over(if there was anything). She looks like a queen and dresses like a queen, but she does not act like a queen. If this is the role of a queen in an Anglo Saxon society, one can only imagine the servitude that is expected of regular women, who were not even permitted to enter Heorot. The role we can expect an Anglo Saxon woman to play is that of a servent of no more worth to a dog. Actually, that's not technically true. After all, even dogs receive the scraps of the master's table.

Essential Question # 2

"What are the social obligations of a hero?"

At a glance, it may seem like heroes are held to a certain set of obligations. Even the heroes themselves feel trapped by their heroic duties at times. However, while all heroes may feel obligated to behave a certain way, they are not truly held to any standard. A true hero has no obligations, but rather inclinations. A hero is born when someone performs a heroic act because they as a human being want to, not when they are forced to. Intent is the foundation of the morality of an action, after all. While heroes do not truly have any obligations, they all seem to follow a pattern of social behavior. This is due to the fact that those who take on the role of a hero all have a heroic mindset. Those who choose to follow their heroic mindset follow the "true hero" formula. A true hero feels the need to protect those around them even at the risk of their own life. A true hero does not kill without need to. A true hero is unselfish and kind to those in need. A true hero is an icon to the people they protect, is justly proud for their work, but holds no narcissism. A true hero not only protects people, but inspires people to protect those around them. A true hero serves as a protector, an inspiration, and above all else, a friend to those around them.

Ess? Part B

Is Shakespeare progressive or misogynistic in his portrayal of Lady Macbeth?


Lady Macbeth is often considered the to be the most disturbing female character that Shakespeare ever created. It is for this fact that many believe Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth to be misogynistic, or contain a hatred of women. However, if one were to examine the character of Lady Macbeth more carefully, they would find that her gender had little to nothing to do with her reprehensible personality. Lady Macbeth's largest crime was bringing about the assassination of King Duncan, which she had been planning even before the start of the play. While this is indeed a wicked and sinful act, it did not come easy to her by any means. Even in the early stages of her plan, Lady Macbeth felt conflicted. She knew that she did not have it in her to commit regicide, and thus goads her husband into doing the deed for her. She blames her sentimentality on the fact that she is a woman, and believes that if she were a man she would be able to kill King Duncan herself. Lady Macbeth was not acting in any way natural to women, but rather in a way that she believed to be natural for a man. This shows that Lady Macbeth's character is not misogynistic, but is rather progressive. Mind you, her decisions may have been founded on evil and selfishness, but she is progressive none the less. She demonstrated her intelligence through her careful planning and ability to manipulate her husband. This is unlike the portrayal of most women during that time, who were all thought to be unintelligent and inferior to a man. Lady Macbeth was trying to be like a man through her actions. It is understandable that Lady Macbeth would want to elevate her position, as women were treated as second-class citizens during her time. The fact that she chose to elevate her position through means of actions that she attributed to man shows that not only did she want to be treated like a man, but she wanted to feel like a man. Lady Macbeth knew ho much better life was for men during her time, and thus wanted to experience ever aspect of it. Unfortunately, she was ignorant to the fact that murder does not come easy to a man, either, as demonstrated by Macbeth's reluctance to kill King Duncan. Those her claim that the character of Lady Macbeth was a misogynistic allegory ignore the fact that Lady Macbeth felt deep remorse for her actions later in the play, even going so far as to kill herself rather than live with her guilt. Is she had been a true misogynistic portrayal of women, she would have been delighted with the chaos she caused, like most man villains that Shakespeare created. Her character should not be thought of as a critique of women, but rather as a critique of people who strive for something that they know nothing about.

Sin Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
April 6, 2010
Final Essay on Sin: Topic 2

The Rewards of a Just God

“Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not ‘forgive us our sins’ but ‘Smite us for our iniquities’ should be the prayer of a man to a most just God”(Wilde 226). This is the belief of Dorian Gray, the main character of The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. Such a belief seems logical, as punishment brings about more reformation than forgiveness. However, when applied to the entire world, Dorian’s belief loses much of its validity. One who is just believes in the “fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law”(dictionary.com). Therefore, logic would dictate that a most just God would reward each of our actions. Of course, that does not mean that wickedness should be met with approval. The word “reward” often carries a positive connotation, causing many to believe that it is the opposite of punishment. However, the act of rewarding someone does not always imply gifts in exchange for good behavior. A reward is defined as “Something given or received in recompense for worthy behavior or in retribution for evil acts”(thefreedictionary.com). The Crucible ,by Arthur Miller, and The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, both involve the main characters being rewarded for their actions. In being rewarded, the characters of both texts reform to become better people. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, however, the main character never truly reforms as he is never truly rewarded. Without rewards, we have no way of knowing if our actions are righteous or wicked, and no way of knowing when we need to repent for our misdeeds. That is why the prayer of a man to a most just God should be “Reward us in accordance with our actions, and show us the error of our ways”.
John Proctor, the main character of The Crucible, committed adultery with Abigail Williams, the niece of reverend Parris who leads the girls in Salem in a plot to have Proctor’s wife put to death. Proctor’s reward for this sin comes in the form of vexing feelings of shame and regret. The weight of his sin soon becomes too much for Proctor, causing him to simply act as if the sin had never taken place. By ignoring his feelings of guilt, Proctor ignores the reward fate had given him for his sin, a decision that soon lands him in more danger than before when Abigail goes to the court and accuses Proctor’s wife of witchcraft. In order to save his wife, Proctor is forced to accept the reward that fate had given him and use it to direct his actions.
Proctor confesses his adultery to the court, a decision that later leads to him being accused of witchcraft. He is scheduled to be put to death if he does confess to crimes that he did not commit and condemn innocent people who were accused of witchcraft. Proctor initially agrees to the terms in order to save his own life, but is unable to bring himself to sign a testimony, as he does not want his name to be used for the court’s own gain: Proctor’s name was his most valuable possession, so it makes sense that fate would have him tarnish his own name if he were to bring about the deaths of innocent people. Proctor is unwilling to accept the potential punishment, and is thus unwilling to commit the crime. Proctor chooses to die rather than allow the court to use his name to bring about the deaths of even more innocent people. It is then that Proctor decided that the only one he needed to confess his sin to, is God, who is in charge of his fate: “I confess to God, and God has seen my name on this! It is enough!”(Miller 142). Through his confession, Proctor accepts the penalty of his sin and clears his conscience, which allows him to enter into the afterlife and accept the eternal reward that comes with his martyrdom.
Hester Prynne, the main character of The Scarlet Letter, was one of the most beloved women in Boston until she committed the sin of adultery. She is constantly reminded of her sin, just as Proctor was. However, while Proctor is rewarded by his fate, Hester is rewarded by both her society and fate. Hester’s society rewards her with a scarlet A, that she is forced to wear as a symbol of her adultery, while fate rewards Hester with a daughter, Pearl, who serves the same purpose. Hester’s view of the scarlet letter and Pearl demonstrates that she has a complete understanding of the fairness and purpose of her rewards. Rather than cursing the world for the hand that she has been dealt, Hester graciously accepts her rewards and uses them to learn from her mistake: “this badge hath taught me –it daily teaches me-it is teaching me at this moment”(Hawthorne 101). Hester also demonstrates an understanding of the lesson that the scarlet letter and Pearl teach her, and makes great strides to improve herself. Through her hard work and dedication, Hester was able to completely redeem herself in the eyes of the town and the eyes of God: "Such helpfulness was found in her,-so much power to do, and power to sympathize,-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able"(146).
Hester is the prime example of how effective it is when rewards received from different sources are all completely just. Oftentimes, a person is praised for their qualities by one person, but scolded for the same qualities by another person. This causes the person to become confused as to what it truly acceptable behavior, and prevents the person from truly being rewarded. Such is the case with Dorian Gray.
When Dorian Gray is first mentioned in the novel, little is known about him. Basil Hallward, a painter and close friend of Dorian Gray, initially describes him as a beautiful young man who “has a simple and beautiful nature”(Wilde 16). Such a description intrigues Lord Henry Wotton, one of Basil’s closest companions, and fills him with the urge to meet Dorian. After warning Lord Henry against attempting to influence Dorian, Basil allows Henry to meet Dorian while he paints a portrait of Dorian. Upon meeting Dorian, Lord Henry begins sharing his thoughts and opinions with the young man. Dorian behaves in accordance with Basil’s description of him, innocently and naively hanging on Lord Henry’s every word. When Dorian states that his appearance does not matter to him, Lord Henry warns Dorian that his beauty will fade with age, and thus he must cherish his good looks while he can. This revelation greatly upsets Dorian, who declares his disdain for the portrait Basil painted of him as it will never age: “How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young…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!...I would give my soul for that!”(28). Little did Dorian know that his velleity was to be granted.
Dorian soon falls madly in love with an actress named Sybil Vane, whom Dorian finds to be sacred. He decides to share the news of his infatuation with Lord Henry, who laughs at Dorian’s devotion to Sybil, but agrees to come with Dorian and Basil to see her perform. Sybil is also in love with Dorian, so much so that she grows bored of the fake love that she acts out and is too enthralled by her real love for Dorian to put any effort into her acting. Unfortunately for Sybil, Dorian was only in love with her for her acting and is disgusted to find that she has lost her talent: “Yes…you have killed my love! You used to stir my imagination. Now you don’t even stir my curiosity. You simply produce no effect…I wish I had never laid eyes upon you!”(91). When Dorian returned home that night, he found that the expression of the picture had become cruel. Dorian attributes this change to the agreement he made to give his soul if the painting would age instead of him, and realizes that “For every sin that he committed, a stain would fleck and wreck its fairness”(96). Dorian vows never to sin again and to escape Lord Henry’s influence, but soon finds that his declaration was made in vain.
Dorian continues to follow Lord Henry’s influence and live a life of sin, causing the painting to grow more and more gruesome. Many of Dorian’s friends become disgusted with his behavior and decide to sever any ties they had to him. Basil, who is worried about Dorian, confronts his friend about his change in conduct. Dorian responds by showing Basil how his portrait had changed from a magnificent beauty to a horrible abomination, mirroring Dorian’s soul. When Basil attempts to convince Dorian that it is not too late to make amends for his actions, Dorian becomes enraged and murders Basil. Dorian then blackmails Alan Campbell, a former friend, into destroying Basil’s corpse.
Dorian soon desires to rid himself of the pain that his sins had caused him. Rather than admitting to his sin publicly or searching for some way to repent for his actions, Dorian decides to “cure the soul by means of the senses and the senses by means of the soul”(189). Dorian accomplishes this by turning to drugs in the hopes of forgetting his sin: “There were opium dens, where one could buy oblivion-dens of horror, where the memory of old sins could be destroyed by the madness of sins that where new”(189). This proved to only be a temporary solution, as Dorian found that feelings of guilt would still rise within him. Finding no escape from his pain, Dorian attempts to reform and become a better person. However, when he decides that his desire to reform is due to his vanity, he loses faith that he will ever repent. In the end, Dorian decides that the only way to achieve peace is to destroy the painting, believing that the act “would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free”(228-229). By killing the painting, Dorian ended up murdering himself.
Dorian is never truly rewarded for his actions, as he is never reprimanded for his wicked actions, nor are his desires to reform met with encouragement. This is mostly due to Lord Henry, who influenced most of Dorian’s actions. Lord Henry was never brave enough to put his beliefs into action, so he influenced Dorian to live according to his words in order to see the result. Whenever Dorian feels any pangs of remorse, Lord Henry advises him to ignore his feelings and focus on receiving pleasure. Lord Henry also constantly flatters Dorian, which leads to Dorian developing a feeling of superiority.
Another factor that leads to Dorian never being truly rewarded is the deal he made to trade his soul for eternal youth. Without his soul, Dorian is unable to receive positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement, as he simply cannot bring himself to care about the world around him. Since everything is pleasurable for him, nothing truly is pleasurable.
The prayer of a man to a most just God should be “Reward us in accordance with our actions, and show us the error of our ways”. In The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, characters were given rewards in accordance with their actions which caused them to see the error of their ways and reform. However, in The Picture Dorian Gray, no characters’ actions are met with the proper reaction. People are praised for being selfish, and reprimanded for caring about someone else. This leaves the characters unable to reform and dooms them to continue living in their sin. A fair and just God would never allow the innocent to suffer or the wicked to prosper. Without proper rewards for our actions, we are left unsure of how to behave.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. United States: Viking Penguin Inc, 1953

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, New York: Bantam Dell, 2003

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray, New York, New York: Barnes & Noble Inc, 2003

<”dictionary” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/justice “dictionary”> April 3, 2010

<”thefreedictionary” http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reward “dictionary”> April 3, 2010

PODG Character Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
March 31, 2010
Character Analysis: Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is a beautiful man who was innocent until being corrupted by Lord Henry and selling his soul to a painting of himself in exchange for eternal youth.
When Dorian is first introduced, he does not think much about his beauty. That is, until Lord Henry, a silver-tongued hedonist who becomes Dorian’s closest friend, reminds him that he beauty will not last, and he will eventually turn old and decrepit. After reflecting on Lord Henry’s words, Dorian becomes jealous of a painting of himself, as it will retain its beauty even as he ages. Dorian becomes so full of envy that he wishes that the painting would age instead of him: “It it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old….I would give my soul for that!”(Wilde 28). Upon Dorian’s words, he stays forever young as the painting becomes a representation of his soul, appearing to be more and more abominable each time that Dorian sins. Dorian develops a fascination with Lord Henry and begins to live his life by Henry’s words. In pursuing his desire to be like Lord Henry, Dorian begins to influence others to ruin, causing all of his friends to distance themselves from him. Eventually, Dorian attempts to break free from his sin by the destroying the painting, only to kill himself in the process.
Dorian is like Pinocchio, and not only because they are both puppets. Dorian abandons the one person who actually cares for him in order to pursue that which he finds amusing, and in the process kills his conscience. He follows the influence of another simply because they are eloquent and ends up a tool for that person’s amusement.
A modern day Dorian Gray would be Joseph Brant, a copycat criminal who lived a lifestyle based off of a movie.

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
March 31, 2010
Character Analysis: Lord Henry

Lord Henry Wotton is a silver-tongued hedonist who delights in manipulating others through the use of eloquence and paradox.
Lord Henry has a desire for his voice to be heard by everyone, which causes him to share his opinion on every subject with anyone who will listen. Lord Henry’s style of speaking is oftentimes controversial. He speaks in such a manner to ensure that his listeners will reflect on his words and hopefully come to think the way that he does. He enjoys initiating others into his style of life, and thus uses his eloquence to control people. Such is the case with Dorian Gray, whom Henry vows to dominate: “He would seek to dominate him-had already, indeed, half done so. He would make that wonderful spirit his own”(Wilde 40). Lord Henry’s desire to control others stems from the fact that he does not practice what he preaches. Lord Henry has others live by his words rather than living by his words, himself. He enjoys a life of pleasure too much to risk his own happiness, so he risks the happiness of others. Lord Henry claims to be a hedonist, yet does not consider the harm that he causes Dorian. This shows that Lord Henry enjoy being a paradox just as much as he enjoys using them.
Lord Henry is like an automotive engineer who crafts a car for each of his beliefs. He is happy with the aesthetic appearance of each of his cars, but is unwilling to test them for fear that he might be harmed. To remedy the situation, he places the crash-test dummy that is Dorian into each of the cars and allows them to drive head-on into the wall.
A modern day Lord Henry would be Charles Manson, as they both used their influence to recruit other people into their lifestyle so that they could use those people to work for their twisted desires rather than taking direct action.

Witticisms

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr.George
March 30, 2009
Witticisms

1) Those who strive for peace must often go to war.

2) We spend our lives attempting to achieve heaven, unaware of the fact that such a paradise would remove the surprises and dangers of life that have become so enjoyable.

3) The sad thing about being the best at something is that you will forever be expected to retain your title. People's expectations create an unbearable amount of pressure and remove the joy that one's talents brought to their life.

4) There are many who call themselves highly intelligent, and are thus great fools.

5) There are two kinds of people in the world; the ones who dominate others and the ones who allow themselves to be dominated. The former is a bull, the latter a jackass.

6) Dreaming is a useless art if one is not willing to work for their desires.

7) It is easy to lose faith once you put it in someone else.

8) If you share your life with someone else, the portions they take will be nothing short of gluttonous.

9) The grass may always be greener on the other side, but I pity the man who is responsible for the upkeep of such a lawn.

10) People who ask "What is wrong with this picture" need only reflect on the fact that they are in it.

PODG #11

"Not 'Forgive us ours' but 'Smite us for our iniquities' should be the prayer of a man to a most just God"(Wilde 226).

Such a God would be useful to Dorian, who desires requires reinforcement to better himself. Oscar Wilde most likely favors negative reinforcement, or else he would not have included this line. Dorian was able to avoid punishment because his portrait bared his sins. Therefor, he only received the pleasures that life had to offer. It is for that reason that negative reinforcement is the only option. I doubt that someone who received rewards and punishments according to their actions would believe negative reinforcement to be the only way to better oneself. The only reason Dorian needs to rely on negative reinforcement in the first place is because all chances of positive reinforcement were removed when he gave his soul to the portrait. When everything is pleasurable, then nothing truly is.

"There was a God who called upon men to tell their sins to earth as well as to heaven"(228).

This belief is interesting, as it differs from beliefs represented in other texts. In The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter, the main characters held the belief that sin only need be between man and God. Here we are introduced to the belief of Dorian's society. I wonder why they would believe that God wants them to bear their sins publicly. Who decided on this? Is it just the fact that it makes it more convenient for society to judge that everyone decided sins should be made visible to the world? Perhaps it was the sinners who decided on this while desiring penance. Whatever the case, at no point did Dorian confess his sin to either, making the whole statement a mute point.

PODG #10

"'Eighteen years,' laughed Dorian Gray, with a touch of triumph in his voice. 'Eighteen years! Set me under the lamp and look at my face!'"(Wilde 195-196).

Dorian has definitely gotten a lot smarter. The fact that he was able to come up with a plan so quickly makes it hard to believe that this is the same Dorian Gray. I would have never imagined Dorian to be capable of something so clever before. I do not even think that a highly intelligent person could have come up with a better plan to avoid death. I cannot tell whether age contributed to his wisdom or is it is his sins that have made him wise. Dorian shows that he will forever be able to use his beauty to his advantage, and is now even better at it. I find it a bit surprising that James Vane did not shoot him immediately. If he thought that this was the man who killed his sister, why did he hesitate? Was he simply enjoying the moments leading up to the kill. Whatever the reason, it paid off for Dorian.

"'The only horrible thing in the world is ennui, Dorian. That is the one sin for which their is no forgiveness'"(208).

This is interesting, as ennui(sloth) is a sin that Dorian commonly commits. Dorian is constantly switching between a state of depression and a state of nonchalantness, which both fall under the category of ennui. It is odd that Dorian can be seen as a tragic character despite the fact that he barely acknowledges his sin. At most he acknowledges how is sin would be looked at by others. I doubt he would care one bit if his sin was not considered taboo by the world. Dorian seems to like his moments of ennui. Although, that will probably change soon as Lord Henry has expressed his disapproval of it.

PODG #9

"'Women love us for a defects. If we have enough of them, they will forgive us everything, even our intellects'"(Wilde 183).

This seems to be true in most societies, although I believe it works both ways. Granted, it is more common for a woman to be attracted to a man's defects than for a man to be attracted to a woman's defects, by the latter is not unheard of. The loving of someone's defects can either stem from a desire to change the person or a desire to be closer to the darkness. People often find others who they want to change, so they develop a love of personal flaws, as they give them purpose. People also have an inclination to be bad. This is especially true with "pure" people, as the darkness is foreign to them and thus more interesting. This quote may foreshadow Dorian meeting a woman who will love his flaws. I would not be surprised, as Henry states this shortly after a conversation about Dorian's love life.

"'How inquisitive you are , Harry! You always want to know what one has been doing. I always want to forget what I have been doing'"(186).

Why is it that Dorian is being so formal with his words? He murdered Basil after showing him the portrait willingly, but feels no anger when Lord Henry is snooping around? Dorian has changed much throughout the novel, but his opinion of Lord Henry has stayed the same. Dorian desires to forget what he has done. While this may be because he believes his actions to have been shameful, I believe that Dorian only wants to forget what has happened because he does not find it to be important. He has showed no signs of remorse before, so it would make no sense if he felt guilty now. Perhaps Dorian's opinion of Lord Henry will change in time. If Dorian was so willing to murder the one he loved the most, I wonder what is in store for Lord Henry.

PODG #8

"'You are mad, Dorian.' 'Ah! I was waiting for you to call me Dorian'"(Wilde 172).

Dorian ignores the fact that he has just been insulted and focuses more on the fact that he has been recognized. This shows that Dorian is beginning to love his dark side more and more as time passes, as pride is a common trait in villains. Dorian desires to be charismatic, and is thus delighted when he hears his own name. He does not care whether his name is spoken in love or hatred, just as long as his name is spoken. Dorian also likes a sense of familiarity. Despite not caring about being loved, there is some deep part of him that wants adoration.

"As he read it his face became ghastly pale, and he fell back in his chair. A horrible sense of sickness came over him. He felt as if his heart was beating itself to death in some empty hollow"(174).

Whatever was written on that paper must have been really bad. Campbell, a man who behaved indifferently upon hearing that Dorian had committed murder is sent into a panic attack by mere words. The words that Dorian wrote are most likely a threat to reveal some dark secret that Campbell as revealed. Campbell has become a slave to Dorian, and is willing to do anything to keep Dorian from mailing that letter. Dorian seems to trust Campbell, as he does not seem the least bit worried that his crime will be made known when Campbell leaves. At the same time, Dorian was not stupid enough to allow Campbell to leave to pick up supplies. Sin seems to make Dorian smarter, but also more careless. I doubt that Dorian will trust Campbell for long. It's only a matter of time before Dorian decides to do away with him.

PODG #7

"'Sin is a thing that writers itself across a man's face. It cannot be concealed"(Wilde153).

Basil speaks with much understanding of the situation without actually having knowledge of it. It is almost like he broke the fourth wall. Sin has indeed written itself across Dorian's face, in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Dorian is not completely sure of what he wants, as his desires conflict with each other. Dorian wants to conceal his sin, but at the same time, wants to make his sin known to the world. The latter desire is slowly outweighing the former. Despite having a concrete representation in the novel, Dorian's sin does not seem as though it can make itself known. It is not that Dorian's sin will reveal itself, but rather that Dorian will reveal his sin. Dorian no longer wastes his time with emotions he cannot experience. He is proud of the way things turned out. Dorian always loved himself, so it is no surprise that he loves what he has become.

"'Deny them, Dorian, deny them! Can't you see what I am going through? My God! don't tell me that you are bad and corrupt and shameful!'"(157).

Basil desires Dorian to be a good person, just as most people desire those who are beautiful to have a personality match their features. However, it does not seem that Basil wants Dorian to be moral simply because he is beautiful. Basil has shown that he cares too much about Dorian as a person to behave so superficially. Basil truly loves Dorian, and is desperate to continue loving him. Basil does not want his view of Dorian to be marred in any way. He was willing to believe that Dorian was pure without any evidence. His trust for Dorian ultimately lead to his downfall.

PODG #6

"There are few of us who have not sometimes wakened before dawn, either after one of those dreamless nights that make us almost enamored of death, or one of those nights of horror and misshapen joy"(Wilde 134).

By using the word "us", Wilde not only incorporates the reader into his story, but also incorporates himself. By doing this, Wilde is putting himself into his art, which has been previously stated to be a taboo. This also shows how genuine the emotions of the characters truly are, as Wilde has obviously felt the same way that they do at some point. Wilde is perhaps speaking on behalf of the others who have experienced the kind of horrors he has, just as he spoke up for those who were gay during his trial. This is an interesting style of writing, although it seems a bit subjective. I wonder if Wilde would be as accurate in descriptions of emotions he had never experienced.

"How exquisite life had once been! How gorgeous in its pomp and decoration! Even to read of the luxury of the dead was wonderful"(140).

Dorian wants the good times back. Whether he truly feels remorse or is merely forcing himself to feel remorse because he thinks that he should is unclear. From what Dorian has revealed himself to be so far, I would wager the latter. Dorian is most likely just bored. The fun is taken out of most thing once your emotions cease to be. Dorian seems to be more interested in the luxurious things than the purpose for such luxury. He wants luxury for the sake of having it, much like he wants remorse for the sake of having it. It is interesting that he envies the dead. After all, Dorian has something in common with those who have died; his body and soul have been separated.

PODG #5

"'Of course, I am very found of Harry. But I know you are better than he is. You are not stronger-you are much too afraid of life-but you are better"'(Wilde 114).

Dorian is like a girl who has two boyfriends, one for compassion and one for sex. While Dorian and Harry have not had sex, Dorian speaks of his conversations with Harry as if they had committed sexual intercourse. Dorian does not want to lose either of these boyfriends, as they both have qualities that he desires. While Dorian's logic tells him to stay with Basil, his lust tells him to go to Harry. If Basil could have some confidence in himself and act dominating, he would be the perfect match for Dorian. Unfortunately, Dorian is too wrapped up in his lust for Harry.

"He felt ready to leap upon him and fling him to the ground if he dared lift the gorgeous hanging that concealed the secret of his life"(126).

Dorian is slipping needs to be careful. The fact that he thinks of harming a kind person who has just helped him hide his secret shows that he is willing to do anything to protect his image. If Dorian does not correct himself soon, it can only get worse from here. It is only a matter of time before he actually attacks someone, or even kills someone. I would not be surprised if Basil or Harry end up on the receiving end of a knife by the end of the book. Dorian has developed animalistic instincts. Nothing is beneath him, now.