February Vacation Witticisms

1) If one seeks true love, open your wallet.

2) Religion thrives on our imagination.

3) The only way to gain attention is when one dies.

4) The easy way to gain friends is to hurt others.

5) The measure of intelligence is determined by the amount in one's bank account.

6) When one has lost something, its value is found.

7) We do not know anything; we only assume things.

8) The only fact of life is death.

9) The seed of evil is nourished by the soil of pride.

10) We work so hard now to not work at all later.

The Picture of Dorian Gray #11: Chapters 15 and 16

"One's days were too brief to take the burden of another's errors on one's shoulders. Each man lived his own life, and paid his own price for living it" (194).

Dorian felt "the terrible pleasure of a double life" (179). In one life, he was the Dorian Gray who does not lose age or beauty. In the other life, he was the portrait, that bears the physical effects of his sin. Dorian seems to not realize that the portrait is a picture of himself. Beyond the colors and paint, the portrait was his soul, his conscience. Dorian Gray was actually leading a single life, but he did have two appearances. Dorian needs to realize that the picture is bearing his corruption and needs to take the burden of  the errors shown upon the painting on his own shoulders. If not, he will fall victim to his sin.

"there was no atonement; but though forgiveness was impossible, forgetfulness was possible still" (189).

Dorian earlier pondered that "The past could always be annihilated; regret, denial, or forgetfulness could do that. But the future was inevitable. There were passions in him that would find their terrible outlet, dreams that would make the shadow of their evil real" (123). Dorian said it himself that even if he tried to forget the sin he committed, his future would be inevitable. Without dealing with his sin, it is obvious that forgiveness is impossible. Dorian was right in saying that his evil would be made real. The painting was a representation of his evil. Dorian should feel himself lucky to have such a symbol that could help better himself and repair his bond with God. Instead of feeling lucky, Dorian felt pride. This excessive self-love has been perverted to contempt for others. Women now fear him, and men do not want to converse with him. Pride will be his downfall if he does not act.

Vocabulary:

"Isn't [Harry] incorrigible?" (183).

incorrigible- adj. (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed 

"Lady Alice Chapman, his hostess's daughter, a dowdy dull girl"

dowdy- adj. (of a person, typically a woman, or their clothes) unfashionable and without style in appearance

The Picture of Dorian Gray #10: Chapter 14

"He felt that if he brooded on what he had gone through he would sicken or grow mad. There were sins whose fascination was more in the memory than in the doing of them, strange triumphs that gratified the pride" (166).

 Once again, Dorian does not realize that brooding over his sin will help him. Dorian needs to understand that the painting is there to help him. He can see the effect of his sin upon the portrait, which should have prompted Dorian to become a better person. Yet, Dorian has found joy and fascination in sin and is now pleasing the pride that has filled his heart. It is strange that Dorian thinks he will become sick if he deals with his sin, for the picture would bear his pain. Brooding over his sin is the first step to a long process of repentance that Dorian has to take for all the sin and terrible deeds he has committed. Dorian will have to change, or his pride will bring upon his end.

"Don't speak about those days, Dorian; they are dead." (174).

We know that Lord Henry influenced Dorian to the point of domination, and now it was Dorian's turn to do the same to others. We see that many people do not like Dorian now, with all the rumors and women fearing him. Alan Campbell must have been someone he tried to influence, yet Campbell saved himself in the end. They were good friends through music and with the help of the attraction Dorian creates. Dorian may have tried to tell Alan that his Genius did not matter, for "Beauty is a form of Genius-- is higher, indeed, than Genius" (24). This is possible for right after people noticed they did not talk anymore, Alan was said to have "[disliked] hearing music, and would never himself play [...] when called upon, that he was so absorbed  in science that he had no time left in which to practise" (170). Alan may have grown less fond of the beauty found in music and continued to bolster his intellect by staying in the lab. Though Alan disliked Dorian, Alan fell for Dorian's entreatment after Dorian threatens to blackmail him. Alan must have done something very unacceptable with Dorian. Dorian is starting to become a lot like Lord Henry with his power to dominate others. The book even states, "Campbell felt dominated by him" (177).

Vocabulary:

"He began to brood over those verses which [...] tell of that curious statue that Gautier compares to a contralto voice" (169).

contralto- n. the lowest female singing voice

"He by monstrous winds was being swept towards the jagged edge of some black cleft or precipice" (171).

precipice- n. a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one

The Picture of Dorian Gray #9: Chapter 12 and 13

"I worshipped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshipped yourself too much. We are both punished" (162).

Basil's revelation of the sin that Dorian and Basil have committed is actually obvious. Basil was infatuated with Dorian, obsessed or even in love. Though one may find love as a positive thing, "Thou shalt not love false gods before Me" (Bible). Basil was worshipping Dorian as if he were God; that is breaking a commandment. As for Dorian, asking for such a power or ability to not age like all humans was a selfish act, a proud act. Pride is the worst of all vices and plants a seed of evil within one's heart. The punishment for his pride can be seen through the painting. 

"He felt that the secret of the whole thing was not to realize the situation. The friend who had painted the fatal portrait to which all his misery had been due had gone out of his life. That was enough" (164).

Dorian still does not realize that dealing with sin is the most important thing. Basil tries to make Dorian repent by praying, but Dorian refuses and ends up killing Basil. Dealing with sin has been a key theme in this book. It is as if God is intentionally leaving clues for Dorian to piece together, yet the puzzle is just too complicated for him. The painting could have came to good use. What if Dorian did not act in such a bad manner, but with goodness? His beauty may have remained or grown. This reflection of his conscience could have been an example of the gratitude model of morality. The more evil committed, the uglier he would become. The more good committed, his beauty would flourish. 

Vocabulary:

"and whisper about what they call the profligacies of their betters" (155).

profligacy- n. something that is recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources

"You should not have made his sister's name a byword" (155).

byword- n. a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something

The Picture of Dorian Gray #8: Chapter 11

“He was almost saddened by the reflection of the ruin that Time brought on beautiful and wonderful things. He, at any rate, had escaped that” (141).

Pride seems to have poisoned Dorian. The way he regards himself as beautiful and wonderful and is almost saddened by the ruin of time comes off as boastful and arrogant. Pride is the utmost evil and is the source of all other vices and sins. Dorian does not realize the power he has gained from his painting. Many would do anything to keep their youth and beauty, and Dorian was lucky enough to have his wish granted. Yet this wish may seem miraculous, it has done him no good. He may have escaped losing his youth, yet the evils of pride and sin have breached his morality: "Manners are of more importance than morals" (146).

"For these treasures, and everything that he collected in his lovely house, were to be to him means of forgetfulness, modes by which he could escape, for a season, from the fear that seemed to him at times to be almost too great to be borne" (143).

A sad end for Dorian is inevitable if he continues to shun the shame of his sin. If Dorian wants to feel any better, he has to repent for his sin, by being open to it. This can be done by showing Basil or others his portrait and how it changes. Dorian cannot rely on collecting all these beautiful things, for beauty and youth will never remain. Beauty will always fade away; that was the reason why he had wished for the portrait to bear his aging in the first place. Dorian will just be hurt in the end if he continues his fascination of the arts and life to appease his fear of the portrait. This fascination continues to grow under the influence of Lord Henry.

 

Vocabulary:

"his [...] debonnair [sic] manner [...] seemed never to leave him" (145).

debonair- adj. confident, stylish, charming

"Of the asceticism that deadens the senses, [...], it was to know nothing" (134).

ascetic- adj. characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

The Picture of Dorian Gray #7: Chapter 9 and 10

"If one doesn't talk about a thing, it has never happened" (111).

Dorian believes that he can get away with what he has done to Sibyl without any consequences: "What is done is done. What is past is past" (112). He does not even care for the girl or "the memory of a few kisses and some broken, pathetic words" (115).  He ends up even hiding the portrait in order for him to be the only one who would being see the alterations in the painting. One cannot hide from sin, for God is the finally judge of one's moral actions. God has the knowledge of the moral process, and therefore will hold Dorian accountable for his actions. As of now, Dorian's moral process has been modified by Lord Henry's influence. Hopefully, God will see this and not punish Dorian as harshly. 

"The past could always be annihilated; regret, denial, or forgetfulness could do that. But the future was inevitable. There were passions in him that would find their terrible outlet, dreams that would make the shadow of their evil real" (123).

Continuing the first quote, Dorian feels the past is not important to him. Such and such has happened, and now it is over with. You can regret it, then deny it, but eventually just forget about it altogether. Dorian cannot escape the clutches of sin without a change or seeking to make his wrongs right. By hiding his painting and feeling no emotion towards Sibyl, Dorian is leading himself onto the wrong path. We have seen before the consequences for not dealing with sin in The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible.

Vocabulary:

"She lingered for a few moments, and was garrulous over some detail of the household" (122).

garrulous- adj. excessively talkative

"He had absolutely nothing to do, almost died of ennui, and became a confirmed misanthrope" (113).

misanthrope- n. a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society

The Picture of Dorian Gray #6: Chapter 8

“There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves we feel that no one else has the right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution” (100). 

If one seeks forgiveness, one has to forgive himself first. Dorian immediately writes a passionate love letter to Sibyl saying that he realizes that he was wrong for the way he treated her and seeks forgiveness from her. Dorian feels like his repentance is complete by this letter. This is similar to John Proctor from The Crucible. After Proctor signs the confession for having done witchcraft, he demands Judge Danforth to not show his confession to the people of Salem, for he already repented through his signature. He did not want to imperfect his name. Luckily, Proctor realized he did not need to worry about being accused by all the townspeople, for God was the final judge. Hopefully, Dorian will come to a similar conclusion, maybe even through Sibyl's brother, James, who promised to kill anyone who hurt her.

"the portrait [...] would be a guide to him through life, would be to him what holiness is to some, and conscience to others, and the fear of God to us all" (99).

Now that we are reassured the painting changes with Dorian's emotions, the portrait has become a symbol of his sin. It seems that the artist, Hallward, is not the only one to leave a secret within this masterpiece. Dorian's conscience has become concrete through the painting. His moral judgments will now be decided upon by overlooking the past displayed upon his face: "every experience is of value" (79). With experience, we learn from our mistakes. Basil's painting has given reality to all of Dorian's experiences and emotions and gives him "a fresh impulse of joy" (20) to remind him of his wrong. 

Vocabulary:

"Was there some subtle affinity between the chemical atoms [...]?" (99).

affinity- n. a spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy for someone or something 

"she either becomes dreadfully dowdy, or wears very smart bonnets" (103).

dowdy- adj. unfashionable and without style in appearance

The Picture of Dorian Gray #5: Chapter 7

"Without your art you are nothing" (91).

Dorian's love for Sibyl is utterly false. He only loved Sibyl for the beauty in her art of acting. Lord Henry has definitely changed Dorian: "Lord Henry had told him that, and Lord Henry knew what women were" (95). Dorian was once innocent and premature, but Lord Henry has influenced him with theories of Hedonism and individualism and ideas uncommon to London: "Good artists exist simply in what they make" (60). If her acting is what made her good, what was left for Dorian to admire with the performance she gave that night? Though it seems Dorian realizes his wrong and wants to make it up to Sibyl, he is only trying to appease the pity he feels for his portrait. Dorian is not in love with Sibyl, but in love with art.

"For every sin that he committed, a stain would fleck and wreck [the painting's] fairness" (96).

 Dorian sees this discovery as "[a] visible emblem of conscience" (96).  Though the painting symbolized conscience, "conscience and cowardice [were] nearly the same" (9). Dorian was still being influenced by  the theories Lord Henry preached. Dorian was only changing his lifestyle and getting back together with Sybil due to the cowardice he felt about the portrait being flawed. The one who is depicted seems to be leaving his own secrets within the painting.  The painting is not a symbol of hope for Dorian, but rather a symbol of Lord Henry's dominance over Dorian. This is awfully similar to Hester with her scarlet letter that symbolized her sin.

Vocabulary:

"The secret of remaining young is never to have an emotion that is unbecoming" (89).

unbecoming- adj. not flattering, not fitting or appropriate

"The air was heavy with the perfume of the flowers, and their beauty seemed to bring him an anodyne for his pain" (93).

anodyne- n. something that alleviates a person's mental distress

The Picture of Dorian Gray #4: Chapter 5 and 6

"Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them"(70).

It is characteristic of all parents to love and raise their children to the best of their ability. The love shown to children is reflected back to their parents. As children grow and begin to view the world on their own, they formulate their own ideas and theories. Everyone has a different worldview, and children may have an opposing worldview with their parent. As tension grows, a need for individualism, as Lord Henry continuously refers to, is needed. Children want to live their own lives away from the influence of their parents, as with James: "I have chosen my own life. [...] I am sixteen [...] and I know what I am about" (67-73). This radicalism has been characteristic of all adolescents with James leaving to Australia and Dorian and Sibyl getting engaged. Hopefully, they will learn their lessons and and forgive their parents.

"The reason why we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves" (79).

Dorian Gray's greatest fear is to lose his beauty with age: "If it were I who was to always be 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!" (28). Dorian would do anything to escape this inevitable end, yet he has found Sibyl Vane. Sibyl can be looked upon as an appeasement for the loss of Dorian's youth. Dorian sees pure beauty in Sibyl: "She is absolutely and entirely divine" (58). This revelation of Sibyl's beauty has made Dorian erase his fear. Another example can be seen through Sibyl's mother. She thinks so well of Dorian for he seems to be affluent. A marriage with Sibyl and Dorian would help the money problems of Sibyl's mother.

Vocabulary:

"She grumbled at his unpunctuality as he entered" (74).

unpunctual- adj. not happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time.

"'You are quite incorrigible, Harry; but I don't mind'" (81).

incorrigible- adj. (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed