"Choose a work of recognized literary merit in which a specific inanimate object (e.g., a seashell, a handkerchief, a painting) is important, and write an essay in which you show how two or three of the purposes the object serves are related to one another."
In the novel, "The Portrait of Dorian Gray", by Oscar Wilde, the self portrait of Dorian Gray represents several different purposes. First it physically shows all of the evil that Dorian is doing in reality, from white hair to wrinkles and blood stains, while also showing how people can over idolize youth and physical beauty.
When someone creates a beautiful painting it stays the same forever (minus natural weathering). In this novel Dorian has sold his soul to the devil in an attempt to remain physically as beautiful as his portrait forever. Instead of just natural aging, the portrait ages with every evil dead that Dorian does. When he breaks the girls heart because he only loved her talent, the painting turns from a normal mouth to a scowl. This means that even though Dorian is attempting to preserve the physical beauty of youth, he fails to grasp all the other things required to be youthful. He may be physically innocent, but on the inside he becomes twisted and evil.
Lord Henry is a horrible influence over Dorian Grey. He laments about love and says that the greatest loves are those that last the shortest. He also over idolizes youth, and this scares Dorian into believing that his beauty is running out of time. That as he ages it will whither and die. Tragically, what he fails to grasp is that the body might start to go, but the mind and soul don't twist with age. They might become less innocent, but that knowledge has a purpose meant to channel a person into doing the right thing. Since Dorian doesn't acquire this wisdom from not aging naturally, he's unable to care about anyone else, or develop the reasoning skills showing what his actions do to other people, since they physically don't effect him. This all stems from the influence that Lord Henry inflicted upon him about youth.
Dorian Grey doesn't begin the novel as an evil character. He changes, quickly as the novel progresses from a charming boy, to a coldhearted narcissistic creature. He makes his full transformation at the end of the novel when he kills the artist of the painting in cold blood. Deciding to completely eradicate his conscience he stabs the painting, the only evidence of his madness. This started with the seed of thought that youth will pass, and that the only things that matter are physical beauty, so Dorian sold his soul and watched his panting take away the evil from his face.
Chris I am not familiar with this piece but I think that you answered the prompt very well. I feel that you gave a lot of examples how the painting represents much more than itself, and more than just examples from the text but events and people and how they relate to the painting. Overall I think you developed a very thorough response that is detailed and effective in answering the prompt. My only suggestion would be to link the darkening of his soul and that effect on the painting with the influence of Lord Henry. Though I may just be confused form a lack of understanding the events of the story. The conclusion was also very effective, wrapping up the piece while still adding insightful evidence of the painting's purpose and their interrelated nature.
ReplyDeleteGreat work Chris! I have never read this book, but I've always wanted to. It sounds pretty interesting. You did a great job of including details to support your thesis without over-summarizing the story. One thing you could have added to make your points a little stronger are ideas that include DIDLS or maybe some quick quotes. Only I really do not believe that using quotes is necessary, because who actually memorizes quotes from a story! so yeah, just a suggestion. I also feel that your introduction lacks a little information. Instead of jumping right in with the story, try to bring up a point that makes the reader think a little and makes them intrigued in what you may have to say next. Overall wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this, it sounds fascinating. I would definitely say, though, that your intro could be a lot stronger if you found an interesting way to lead into the essay, instead of just answering the prompt. You did a great job of answering the prompt but I think you need some more clear evidence. Your examples from the novel are good but think about adding DIDLS and how those techniques create the effects that lead the meaning and why his portrait is important. It might be nice, too, to tie your intro to your conclusion, wrapping it up and restating your thesis. Overall, good work!
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