1.) incorrigible - (adj.) not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform (dictionary.com)
"'Isn't he incorrigible?' cried Dorian, leaning forward in his chair" (Wilde 183).
2.) oblivion - (n.) the state of being completely forgotten or unknown (dictionary.com)
"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 were new" (189).
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1.) "He himself could not help wondering at the calm of his demeanor, and for a moment felt keenly the terrible pleasure of a double life" (179).
This quote comes at the beginning of chapter fifteen. It is used in relation to his murder of Basil. An act as terrible as murder would be punished pretty harshly. If anyone discovered Dorian's murder of Basil, that could mean trouble for him. On the inside, his sin churns within, but he actively seeks to appear calm on the outside, as to remain unsuspecting. In Dorian's seeming youth, no one would expect him to be capable of such a hideous act as murder. His calm demeanor on the outside would further mask his identity. However, Dorian could not conceal his sin forever. He already told it to Adam Campbell, and he is likely to tell others of what Dorian did. In that way, there is not much to be achieved by concealment when he is framed to be discovered. Dorian also seeks to right the wrong he had committed, not because he cared about Basil or other's opinions, but to relieve the burden on himself that weighed him down when he tired to pacify himself. Dorian is clearly a Hedonist, all he seeks in life is pure pleasure. In order to be cured of his wrongful actions, he will first have to drop Hedonism and realize the flaws that it contains. It was through Hedonism that he sought pleasure. In spreading the empty message of Hedonism, he only ended up making a mess of many people's lives and earned himself a poor reputation that was beyond repair.
2.) "Dim and wavering as was the wind-blown light, yet it served to show him the hideous error, as it seemed, into which he had fallen, for the face of the man he had sought to kill had all the bloom of boyhood, all the unstained purity of youth" (196).
This quote comes in when James Vane finds Dorian. Some women were looking at Dorian, and he paid them to look away. After one of them called him prince charming, James Vane, who happened to be present, took notice. With the death of Sybil, James Vane swore revenge on Dorian, whose care Sybil was in. This quote is Dorian's defence. He simply asked how many years it was since Sybil died, and had James look at his face and see that it was in fact too young to have been around that long ago. In this case, Dorian's pleasure saved him. Through his good looks, Dorian receives much pleasure, as people find him young and attractive. Yet, the fact that he was good looking only encouraged him to act wrongly though, since others may regard him by his beauty and not by his actions. Dorian was horribly mistaken his entire life about that notion, but this time, it saved him. However, Dorian would be better off to die now. Dorian would die seemingly innocent. He would not have to carry the burden of his murder of Basil anymore and he would die only known for what wrongdoing people knew he had committed. He would not die with everyone knowing that he was a murderer and thus hated by everyone for it. Also, if he died when he was discovered by James Vane, Dorian's strangling influence would be over, and he and everyone would be at peace for it.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
To Page 178
1.) batten - (v.) to furnish or bolster with small boards or strips of wood used for various building purposes, as to cover joints between boards, reinforce certain doors, or supply a foundation for lathing (dictionary.com)
"The brain had its own food on which it battened, and the imagination, made grotesque by terror, twisted and distorted as a living thing thing by pain, danced like some foul puppet on a stand, and grinned through moving masks" (Wilde 171).
2.) leer - (v.) to look with a sideways or oblique glance, esp. suggestive of lascivious interest or sly and malicious intention (dictionary.com)
"As he did so he saw the face of his portrait leering in the sunlight" (177).
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1.) "Whatever my life is, he had more to do with the making or the marring of it than poor Harry has had" (173).
This quote comes in while Dorian convinces Alan Campbell to dispose of Basil's body. In this quote, Dorian basically blames Basil for convincing Dorian to murder him. Campbell blames the influence of Lord Henry of having corrupted Dorian, and this quote is his response to that. Lord Henry preached to Dorian nothing more than to live a life of Hedonism. In the meantime, Basil stood for the exact opposite. Basil believed in staying true to oneself as well as justice. This is exemplified when Basil asks Dorian to forgive himself for his poor decisions he made in the past. Basil even warned Dorian in the beginning that Lord Henry was a bad influence, but Dorian did not heed his advice. Yet, to a common Hedonist, what matters most is the matter at hand. Dorian is not concerned so much with the past. He has had his pleasure in the past, and now he sought pleasure in the present at whatever expense. However, Basil's meeting with Dorian only got Dorian's bad side, and he impulsively murdered Basil, since his righteousness got in the way of Dorian's pleasure. In that way, Dorian is implying with the above quote that Basil, in actuality, marred his life.
2.) "What was that loathsome red dew that gleamed, wet and glistening, on one of the hands, as though the canvas had sweated blood? How horrible it was!" (177).
This quote is stated as Campbell is disposing of Basil's body. In the meantime, Dorian glances at his portrait that Basil painted, and sees that the hand appears to be bleeding. As previously mentioned, the portrait is like Dorian's soul. It changes and becomes more hideous as Dorian's soul does. At this point, the blood on the hand can mean two things, the death of Dorian's soul and the ultimate corruption of his soul. Dorian had a past marked with reckless decisions that made him into and irritable individual. No one could stand him or his negative outlook. When Dorian got to the point of actually murdering Basil, a former friend who meant well to him the entire time, that came with serious implications. Dorian stands for Hedonism while Basil stands for righteousness. If good always wins out in the end, the victory of Hedonism over righteousness through Basil' s murder would not last very long. The fact that Basil meant well was even more striking. If one means well, anyone could perceive that. Yet, Dorian failed to do that, and instead decided to commit a horrible evil, the kind of evil that no one can escape if committed. Dorian would be plagued forever, and his soul would eventually be swallowed by the guilt he experienced. If good always wins out in the end, chances that would entail the discovery of Dorian's crime and the punishment that would ensue.
"The brain had its own food on which it battened, and the imagination, made grotesque by terror, twisted and distorted as a living thing thing by pain, danced like some foul puppet on a stand, and grinned through moving masks" (Wilde 171).
2.) leer - (v.) to look with a sideways or oblique glance, esp. suggestive of lascivious interest or sly and malicious intention (dictionary.com)
"As he did so he saw the face of his portrait leering in the sunlight" (177).
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1.) "Whatever my life is, he had more to do with the making or the marring of it than poor Harry has had" (173).
This quote comes in while Dorian convinces Alan Campbell to dispose of Basil's body. In this quote, Dorian basically blames Basil for convincing Dorian to murder him. Campbell blames the influence of Lord Henry of having corrupted Dorian, and this quote is his response to that. Lord Henry preached to Dorian nothing more than to live a life of Hedonism. In the meantime, Basil stood for the exact opposite. Basil believed in staying true to oneself as well as justice. This is exemplified when Basil asks Dorian to forgive himself for his poor decisions he made in the past. Basil even warned Dorian in the beginning that Lord Henry was a bad influence, but Dorian did not heed his advice. Yet, to a common Hedonist, what matters most is the matter at hand. Dorian is not concerned so much with the past. He has had his pleasure in the past, and now he sought pleasure in the present at whatever expense. However, Basil's meeting with Dorian only got Dorian's bad side, and he impulsively murdered Basil, since his righteousness got in the way of Dorian's pleasure. In that way, Dorian is implying with the above quote that Basil, in actuality, marred his life.
2.) "What was that loathsome red dew that gleamed, wet and glistening, on one of the hands, as though the canvas had sweated blood? How horrible it was!" (177).
This quote is stated as Campbell is disposing of Basil's body. In the meantime, Dorian glances at his portrait that Basil painted, and sees that the hand appears to be bleeding. As previously mentioned, the portrait is like Dorian's soul. It changes and becomes more hideous as Dorian's soul does. At this point, the blood on the hand can mean two things, the death of Dorian's soul and the ultimate corruption of his soul. Dorian had a past marked with reckless decisions that made him into and irritable individual. No one could stand him or his negative outlook. When Dorian got to the point of actually murdering Basil, a former friend who meant well to him the entire time, that came with serious implications. Dorian stands for Hedonism while Basil stands for righteousness. If good always wins out in the end, the victory of Hedonism over righteousness through Basil' s murder would not last very long. The fact that Basil meant well was even more striking. If one means well, anyone could perceive that. Yet, Dorian failed to do that, and instead decided to commit a horrible evil, the kind of evil that no one can escape if committed. Dorian would be plagued forever, and his soul would eventually be swallowed by the guilt he experienced. If good always wins out in the end, chances that would entail the discovery of Dorian's crime and the punishment that would ensue.
Monday, February 9, 2009
To Page 165
1.) petulant - (adj.) moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance (dictionary.com)
"'What is it all about?' cried Dorian, in his petulant way, flinging himself down on the sofa" (Wilde 153).
2.) debauchery - (n.) excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance (dictionary.com)
"Did I teach the one his vices and the other his debauchery?" (155).
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1.) "'Know you? I wonder do I know you? Before I could answer that I should have to see your soul'" (156).
This quote is said before Basil is shown the picture of Dorian. Before then, Basil was at Dorian's house, telling him of terrible rumors in circulation about Dorian and his lifestyle. Dorian seems indifferent the entire time, as if hearing such things was perfectly natural. Often times, these rumors were of well-to-do individuals who were friends with Dorian but whose careers or lives were ended in terrible ways. Basil blames Dorian's pride and youth as having corrupted these individuals. Dorian gets tense while these things are said, but Basil says that it is for Dorian's own good that he gets help from the one who knows him best. Then Basil takes back how he said that he knew Dorian best by saying the above quote. It seems as if Basil may not know him at all. Yet, he felt obligated to help him because of their friendship in the past. However, Basil's wish to make Dorian use his convincing powers for good rather than evil backfires in the end when Dorian's cynicism gets to him.
2.) "'I worshiped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshiped yourself too much. We are both punished'" (162).
This quote is said by Basil after he sees the portrait of Dorian that he painted years ago. Basil asked to see Dorian's soul, and he got it through the painting. Basil was horrified at how the picture had warped in such a way that Dorian's life and influence had. Looking at the painting fills Basil with guilt. He then seeks penance by saying the above quote, but if anything, his quote was an indicator of what Dorian had in store for him. It was Dorian's youth that attracted Basil to him. Basil wished merely to capture that beauty on canvas to rever it. Basil feels as if his worship fostered Dorian's cockiness along with Lord Henry's prophesies. This is indeed true. Dorian's beauty won him many admirerers. While he was trying to lead an extravagant life, Dorian was quick to turn on his admirerers and exploit them for his own pleasure's sake, which won him his rivals. Basil also makes the point that he and Dorian are punished for their worship of youth. That is true again. Basil was punished sooner, though. While praying for forgiveness, Dorian stabbed him to death. In time, Dorian will face his punishment, because he cannot conceal Basil's murder forever.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
To Page 150
1.) sordid - (adj.) morally ignoble or base (dictionary.com)
"They wondered how one so charming and graceful as he was could have escaped the stain of an age that was at once sordid and sensual" (Wilde 131).
2.) enamor - (v.) to charm or captivate (dictionary.com)
"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, when through the chambers of the brain sweep phantoms more terrible than reality itself, and instinct with that vivid life that lurks in all grotesques, and that lends to Gothic art its enduring vitality, this art being, one might fancy, especially the art of those whose minds have been troubled with the malady of reverie" (134).
This quote directly relates to Dorian's outlook on life. He seeks to study the senses so that he may exploit them for their ability to perceive the beautiful. He plans to do this by studying specimens of beauty imported from around the world. Over the next few years, he collects jewels, perfumes, tapestries, and other treasures from around the world that resemble luxury of any kind. He looks at all these things based on their face value and how exquisite they are. It is said that "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). That fear that was implied was his aging, which was ultimately his loss of his beauty. Yet, he has the portrait of himself that Basil painted for him. It is described as bearing the toil of aging for Dorian, hence explaining his modes for escape.
2.) "It was remarked, however, that some of those who had been most intimate with him appeared, after a time, to shun him. Women who had wildly adored him, and for his sake had braved all social censure and set convention at defiance, were seen to grow pallid with shame or horror if Dorian Gray entered the room" (145).
This quote could be a foretaste of what is in store for Dorian. It makes mention that there are people out there who shun him. This makes sense, since his desire to indulge in every pleasure would derive competition from those striving to do the same. Yet, this pleasure has made him self-centered in the process. He rejected Sybil's death as the past and could not affect him at present. Basil thought that an outrage, yet, Lord Henry praised him. Perhaps there is not much left of the relationship between Basil and Dorian. They both stand for different values, and it seems inevitable that those values will clash at some point. As for Dorian's relationship with Lord Henry, the end may be near. Lord Henry believes in much of what Dorian believes in, and in living out those beliefs, they may come in conflict at some point. It is described towards the end of the chapter that "There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful" (150). With such an outlook, seeing hardships in Dorian's path is quite believable.
"They wondered how one so charming and graceful as he was could have escaped the stain of an age that was at once sordid and sensual" (Wilde 131).
2.) enamor - (v.) to charm or captivate (dictionary.com)
"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, when through the chambers of the brain sweep phantoms more terrible than reality itself, and instinct with that vivid life that lurks in all grotesques, and that lends to Gothic art its enduring vitality, this art being, one might fancy, especially the art of those whose minds have been troubled with the malady of reverie" (134).
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1.) "But it appeared to Dorian Gray that the true nature of the senses had never been understood, and that they had remained savage and animal merely because the world had sought to starve them into submission or to kill them by pain, instead of aiming at making them elements of a new spirituality, of which a fine instinct for beauty was to be the dominant characteristic" (133).This quote directly relates to Dorian's outlook on life. He seeks to study the senses so that he may exploit them for their ability to perceive the beautiful. He plans to do this by studying specimens of beauty imported from around the world. Over the next few years, he collects jewels, perfumes, tapestries, and other treasures from around the world that resemble luxury of any kind. He looks at all these things based on their face value and how exquisite they are. It is said that "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). That fear that was implied was his aging, which was ultimately his loss of his beauty. Yet, he has the portrait of himself that Basil painted for him. It is described as bearing the toil of aging for Dorian, hence explaining his modes for escape.
2.) "It was remarked, however, that some of those who had been most intimate with him appeared, after a time, to shun him. Women who had wildly adored him, and for his sake had braved all social censure and set convention at defiance, were seen to grow pallid with shame or horror if Dorian Gray entered the room" (145).
This quote could be a foretaste of what is in store for Dorian. It makes mention that there are people out there who shun him. This makes sense, since his desire to indulge in every pleasure would derive competition from those striving to do the same. Yet, this pleasure has made him self-centered in the process. He rejected Sybil's death as the past and could not affect him at present. Basil thought that an outrage, yet, Lord Henry praised him. Perhaps there is not much left of the relationship between Basil and Dorian. They both stand for different values, and it seems inevitable that those values will clash at some point. As for Dorian's relationship with Lord Henry, the end may be near. Lord Henry believes in much of what Dorian believes in, and in living out those beliefs, they may come in conflict at some point. It is described towards the end of the chapter that "There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful" (150). With such an outlook, seeing hardships in Dorian's path is quite believable.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
To Page 129
1.) brocade - (n.) fabric woven with an elaborate design, esp. one having a raised overall pattern (dictionary.com)
"Old brocades, green bronzes, , lacquer-work, carved ivories, exquisite surroundings, luxury, pomp - there is much to be got from all these" (Wilde 114).
2.) languid - (adj.) lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow (dictionary.com)
"He opened The St. James's languidly, and looked through it" (127).
This quote comes in when Basil goes over Dorian's house and apologizes for Sybil's death. This quote is Dorian's response to Basil's apology. It seems that Dorian does not care much for Sybil's death, or perhaps he selectively forgot about it. This is a sign of Lord Henry's influence working on Dorian. Lord Henry taught Dorian to not let the little things hurt him and to live his live to the fullest. This is Dorian trying to do that, yet, the death of Sybil, who was to be his wife, is not necessarily a little thing. If Dorian keeps doing this, he will fall into trouble. He was unkind the first time to Sybil, and she killed herself. Perhaps next time Dorian is unkind, another person will end up dying. Whatever the case, Dorian must also avoid the negative coping mechanism of selective forgetting too. It creates in his mind the inability to care and the tendency to commit more wrongs.
2.) "What the worm was to the corpse, his sins would be to the painted image on the canvas. They would mar its beauty, and eat away its grace" (122).
This quote comes in when Dorian resolves to hide the painting in the schoolroom of his house. This quote was used after Dorian placed a drop cloth over it. It was ornate and beautiful, like the painting that it concealed. In this quote, it seems that Dorian's sins are responsible for the slight changes that have appeared on the painting. This quote could be a brief summary of Dorian's future. Perhaps Dorian hid the painting, since he feared that after a while, it might begin to look pretty ugly with his sins. Maybe he put it in a safe spot so that he could look at it in private, and see how his sins change it. Whatever the case might be, it gives a foretaste of what is to come, and that is that he will not have a very bright future.
"Old brocades, green bronzes, , lacquer-work, carved ivories, exquisite surroundings, luxury, pomp - there is much to be got from all these" (Wilde 114).
2.) languid - (adj.) lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow (dictionary.com)
"He opened The St. James's languidly, and looked through it" (127).
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1.) "I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them" (112).This quote comes in when Basil goes over Dorian's house and apologizes for Sybil's death. This quote is Dorian's response to Basil's apology. It seems that Dorian does not care much for Sybil's death, or perhaps he selectively forgot about it. This is a sign of Lord Henry's influence working on Dorian. Lord Henry taught Dorian to not let the little things hurt him and to live his live to the fullest. This is Dorian trying to do that, yet, the death of Sybil, who was to be his wife, is not necessarily a little thing. If Dorian keeps doing this, he will fall into trouble. He was unkind the first time to Sybil, and she killed herself. Perhaps next time Dorian is unkind, another person will end up dying. Whatever the case, Dorian must also avoid the negative coping mechanism of selective forgetting too. It creates in his mind the inability to care and the tendency to commit more wrongs.
2.) "What the worm was to the corpse, his sins would be to the painted image on the canvas. They would mar its beauty, and eat away its grace" (122).
This quote comes in when Dorian resolves to hide the painting in the schoolroom of his house. This quote was used after Dorian placed a drop cloth over it. It was ornate and beautiful, like the painting that it concealed. In this quote, it seems that Dorian's sins are responsible for the slight changes that have appeared on the painting. This quote could be a brief summary of Dorian's future. Perhaps Dorian hid the painting, since he feared that after a while, it might begin to look pretty ugly with his sins. Maybe he put it in a safe spot so that he could look at it in private, and see how his sins change it. Whatever the case might be, it gives a foretaste of what is to come, and that is that he will not have a very bright future.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
To Page 110
1.) lurid - (adj.) gruesome; horrible; revolting (dictionary.com)
"But you must thing of that lonely death in the tawdry dressing-room simply as a strange lurid fragment from some Jacobean tragedy, as a wonderful scene from Webster, or Ford, or Cyril Tourneur." (Wilde 107).
2.) desecrate - (v.) to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office (dictionary.com)
"A feeling of pain crept over him as he thought of the desecration that was in store for the fair face on the canvas" (109).
In the quote, Dorian receives a truth that must be tough to accept. According to Lord Henry, Sybil is dead. Dorian was then plunged into a guilt trip for the rest of the chapter. He was awful to Sybil the night before, and decided to make amends. Yet, before he could do so, she committed suicide by taking in poison in a dressing-room. Considering that Sybil was Dorian's wife to be, of course he would feel awful. Perhaps it was his carelessness with his emotions that got the greater of her. Lord Henry attempts to console Dorian, mostly by telling him not to get involved or by inciting thought that women are inferior to him, since he could get another very easily with his good looks. Going back to chapter five, James Vane was correct in saying, "Sybil, yo are mad about him" (72). With Dorian telling Sybil never to see him again she took him too literally. She could have waited a few hours and been forgiven by Dorian. Also, if James finds out about Sybil's death, that would mean trouble for Dorian. James vowed that if Dorian harmed Sybil, he would kill Dorian.
2.) "Conscience makes egotists of us all" (106).
This quote is a part of Lord Henry's consolation for Dorian. Hearing about Sybil's death, Dorian is deeply troubled. Yet, Lord Henry tells him not to worry, since minding one's conscience would only yield trouble for oneself. Dorian is told not to mind his sins, such as that he committed towards Sybil. That is because it would make him boastful in the sense that he can never forget his sin. It would be more like boastfulness to himself. Lord Henry takes the above philosophy and uses it many times an to achieve different purposes. For example, when Lord Henry said "A new Hedonism - that is what our century wants. You might be its visible symbol," (25) he is telling Dorian that he is to live as carefree as he wishes, as when he said that he is not to let conscience govern himself when it holds such a burden as Sybil's death.
"But you must thing of that lonely death in the tawdry dressing-room simply as a strange lurid fragment from some Jacobean tragedy, as a wonderful scene from Webster, or Ford, or Cyril Tourneur." (Wilde 107).
2.) desecrate - (v.) to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office (dictionary.com)
"A feeling of pain crept over him as he thought of the desecration that was in store for the fair face on the canvas" (109).
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1.) "'Dorian,' he said, 'my letter - don't be frightened - was to tell you that Sybil Vane is dead'" (101).In the quote, Dorian receives a truth that must be tough to accept. According to Lord Henry, Sybil is dead. Dorian was then plunged into a guilt trip for the rest of the chapter. He was awful to Sybil the night before, and decided to make amends. Yet, before he could do so, she committed suicide by taking in poison in a dressing-room. Considering that Sybil was Dorian's wife to be, of course he would feel awful. Perhaps it was his carelessness with his emotions that got the greater of her. Lord Henry attempts to console Dorian, mostly by telling him not to get involved or by inciting thought that women are inferior to him, since he could get another very easily with his good looks. Going back to chapter five, James Vane was correct in saying, "Sybil, yo are mad about him" (72). With Dorian telling Sybil never to see him again she took him too literally. She could have waited a few hours and been forgiven by Dorian. Also, if James finds out about Sybil's death, that would mean trouble for Dorian. James vowed that if Dorian harmed Sybil, he would kill Dorian.
2.) "Conscience makes egotists of us all" (106).
This quote is a part of Lord Henry's consolation for Dorian. Hearing about Sybil's death, Dorian is deeply troubled. Yet, Lord Henry tells him not to worry, since minding one's conscience would only yield trouble for oneself. Dorian is told not to mind his sins, such as that he committed towards Sybil. That is because it would make him boastful in the sense that he can never forget his sin. It would be more like boastfulness to himself. Lord Henry takes the above philosophy and uses it many times an to achieve different purposes. For example, when Lord Henry said "A new Hedonism - that is what our century wants. You might be its visible symbol," (25) he is telling Dorian that he is to live as carefree as he wishes, as when he said that he is not to let conscience govern himself when it holds such a burden as Sybil's death.
Monday, February 2, 2009
To Page 96
1.) discordant - (adj.) being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous (dictionary.com)
"Some women were laughing in the pit; their voices were horribly shrill and discordant" (Wilde 85).
2.) loiter - (v.) to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place (dictionary.com)
"After a little while he hailed a hansom, and drove home. For a few moments he loitered upon the doorstep, looking round at the silent Square, with its blank, close-shuttered windows and its staring blinds" (93).
This quote comes in after the play is done. Dorian goes backstage to see Sybil, and the above quote sums up what he said to her. Dorian is disappointed that Sybil acted so poorly. Lord Henry and Basil said that she was charming, but could not act. This offended Dorian, who said otherwise. In the above quote, Dorian is explaining to Sybil how he felt. The above quote implies that Dorian is a sensitive character. He was engaged to Sybil, yet, one poor performance by her almost changed that. This shows that Dorian has fallen under the influence of Lord Henry. Sybil was beautiful, but her acting that night was poor, which evened it out. According to Lord Henry, beauty is greater than intellect. Even though Sybil said that she could not act since she had Dorian on her mind, he was not at all flattered.
2.) "Poor child! He had been selfish and cruel to her. The fascination that she had exercised over him would return. They would be happy together. His life with her would be beautiful and pure" (96).
The above quote appears towards the end of the chapter, when Dorian is at home. When looking at the portrait that Basil painted of him, he notices an odd, cynical smirk across its face. Dorian immediately feels guilty when he sees this, because his selfishness towards Sybil would be what ended what he recognized as the greatest romance of his life. In the above quote, Dorian decides to make amends for his poor conduct towards Sybil. It is implied that there is true love between Dorian and Sybil. When couples feud, good couples would consider making amends as Dorian is. That is to sustain the bond between both individuals. In relationships, when there is no willingness to complain, wrongdoings are magnified many times over as they are committed.
"Some women were laughing in the pit; their voices were horribly shrill and discordant" (Wilde 85).
2.) loiter - (v.) to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place (dictionary.com)
"After a little while he hailed a hansom, and drove home. For a few moments he loitered upon the doorstep, looking round at the silent Square, with its blank, close-shuttered windows and its staring blinds" (93).
---
1.) "you have killed my love! You used to stir my imagination. Now you don't even stir my curiosity" (91).This quote comes in after the play is done. Dorian goes backstage to see Sybil, and the above quote sums up what he said to her. Dorian is disappointed that Sybil acted so poorly. Lord Henry and Basil said that she was charming, but could not act. This offended Dorian, who said otherwise. In the above quote, Dorian is explaining to Sybil how he felt. The above quote implies that Dorian is a sensitive character. He was engaged to Sybil, yet, one poor performance by her almost changed that. This shows that Dorian has fallen under the influence of Lord Henry. Sybil was beautiful, but her acting that night was poor, which evened it out. According to Lord Henry, beauty is greater than intellect. Even though Sybil said that she could not act since she had Dorian on her mind, he was not at all flattered.
2.) "Poor child! He had been selfish and cruel to her. The fascination that she had exercised over him would return. They would be happy together. His life with her would be beautiful and pure" (96).
The above quote appears towards the end of the chapter, when Dorian is at home. When looking at the portrait that Basil painted of him, he notices an odd, cynical smirk across its face. Dorian immediately feels guilty when he sees this, because his selfishness towards Sybil would be what ended what he recognized as the greatest romance of his life. In the above quote, Dorian decides to make amends for his poor conduct towards Sybil. It is implied that there is true love between Dorian and Sybil. When couples feud, good couples would consider making amends as Dorian is. That is to sustain the bond between both individuals. In relationships, when there is no willingness to complain, wrongdoings are magnified many times over as they are committed.
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