Feminist Critique

Although there are some clever anti-feminist connections to many famous texts, we should not completely assume that the authors were women haters. It is important to understand that we took texts from the past and analyzed them on the terms of our modern society. The texts may seem to reinforce the oppression of real-life women, but we must remember that these texts were written in the context of society, in which such qualities were acceptable. The authors merely wrote texts that reflected the society they lived in. For example, Chaucer portrays Emily as a weak soul, who was denied the privilege to preserve her virginity. In this case, it does seem as though Chaucer is not being fair to his female character, but once again, it is important to remember that during the time this text was written, woman did not have important roles in society. Women were not even allowed to go to school and receive an education. Thus, it seems quite valid for Chaucer to portray his female characters as prizes, rather than real people. Girls were raised to get married and fulfill the duties of a wife. Likewise, Hippolyta was won to be Theseus' wife and Emily was married to Palamon. In Chaucer's defense, he was not really being a woman hater. He could have spoke of Emily and Hippolyta as powerful woman if society back then held women at such a high level. This is something we do not know for a fact, so it would be unfair to label him as this. However, in some instances, it is plausible that men saw women more as objects rather than their equals. For example, the author of Alice in Wonderland wrote this story after spying on his boss's daughter. Not only is this disgusting, but we can also infer his lack of courtesy he had for the daughter by respecting her privacy instead of looking at her as a means of pleasure.

Final Ideal Society

I did not trade my cards with anybody, but I have valid reasons. My goal was to have a balanced society. I chose Einstein, Beyonce, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Theresa, and Lieutenant Horatio Caine from CSI: Miami. As I spoke to some of my classmates, I noticed a common trend in the choices that were picked. Many students chose Einstein or Martin Luther King, Jr. as their societies' scholars and leaders, and a saintly figure, such as Gandhi or Mother Theresa. I found that others and I had similar goals in mind when deciding our societies, so I did not see a need to trade any of my people. However, I was offered a Kanye West card, which I refused. I believe Beyonce is the better choice because Kanye West could potentially introduce inappropriate ideas to my society's youth. I do not believe that he would be a good influence, which is why I was satisfied with the entertainer I had chosen. A flaw my society might have is having too much of a focus on structure and service. Beyonce is the only person I chose to promote a sociable society, but not all people may like what she has to offer. She represents one style of music and fashion that I would prefer, but not what others might like. I think my society also lacks a leader in extracurricular activities. There is nobody in my society, who promotes athletics or other activities besides service. Another flaw my society has is the lack of a person or player who connects the citizens together, such as a common enemy or a sports team. It is important for society to at least agree on one thing or else it might cause a division in its citizens. I believe my society contains the basic qualities I would like to be represented. I chose people who I thought not only reflected what should be most valued in a society, but also reflected concepts that are most important to me.

Ideal Society

In my ideal society, I would have a balance of morality, logic, and some social aspects. The five people that would best represent my society would be Lieutenant Horatio Caine from CSI: Miami, Beyonce, Albert Einstein, Mother Theresa, and Martin Luther King, Jr. I chose Lieutenant Horatio Caine to be the law enforcement and the government. On the show, he plays a prominent role in leading his police force into various investigations. There has yet to be a case that he struggles with. Caine uses his logic and reasoning to solve any crime he faces. I think having logic and reasoning is something crucial for one to have in order to live in a society. I chose Beyonce to be the entertainer, sexual being, and artist. Beyonce entertains others with her beautiful voice and steers away from making bad decisions. I think she is also a very classy woman, which is something I would like to promote in my society. There should be a sense of pride in one's appearance, but not arrogance. One should not look frumpy, but strive for an elegant look. Beyonce can also spread her sense of style with others to follow. She also has the presence of a good friend or sister. Albert Einstein would be the scientist, scholar, and teacher. Einstein is known for his inventions and with his intelligence, he can solve any mental or mechanical problem. His mind is extremely sharp, which I believe to be rare among people. He has a desire to learn and achieve further than many others. With his knowledge and brilliance, my society would have most of its problems solved. Mother Theresa would assist in bringing about morality. Everybody needs to experience the power of serving others. It is a special feeling that motivates one to do more. Mother Theresa would be the nurturer and mother figure. She would share her love and care with others. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be the leader and the enlightener. His powerful words left a mark on society. He started a movement that turned into a success and risked his life for society's good. This is a leader worth having; a leader who puts others before himself without seeking any benefits of being "in control". Not only have I balanced my logical and moral aspects of society with Horatio Caine and Einstein on one end and Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King, Jr. on the other, I also managed to create a very diverse society with many different cultural backgrounds!

10 Stages of Courtly Love

1.) Make sure your love interest is aware of you! If this involves going out of your way to pick up her dropped pen, then please do so.

2.) Once your love interest is aware that you exist, try to become her acquaintance or at least have a relationship with her that is not awkward. This could involve simply being partners with her for a school project or an in-class assignment. If it is a school project, be sure to get her number! It does not hurt to find an excuse to call!

3.) Through these small opportunities you have with her, make sure she gets to know you. For example, spark up a conversation while working on your assignment together. Make sure you do not focus the whole conversation around yourself! Ask her about herself too. It shows you care and are interested in what she has to say.

4.) If you have managed to engage in a variety of conversations with her, then you are on the right track. She will begin to view you more as a friend rather than an acquaintance. Note: Your goal is only to get her to know you! Do not be too friendly with her, or else she will label you as a good friend and nothing more.

5.) Do not constantly be the one to approach her. If she is interested in you, she will approach you also! If you believe you are the one making all the efforts, then I am afraid this is where the road ends. Do not waste your time and try to move on.

6.) If you have noticed her eagerness in looking for you in the hallway or her efforts in trying to talk to you, then it is time to show her your affection. When I say this, I do not mean attacking her with kisses, but simply look her in the eyes when you speak to her, listen to what she has to say, and most importantly, be respectful. Show her that whatever she says is important to you. When she is down, be that person who gives her a hug to make her feel better. Show her your concern if she is not feeling well. In other words, give her more care and attention than you normally would for anybody else.

7.) Now, if you are successfully doing this, then you should receive a similar response. This could involve her confiding her secrets to you or being caring towards you. For example, she might bake you cookies because she knows they are your favorite.

8.) When you feel her warmth and affection growing, then it is time for you to ask her out on a date. Do not ask her in an awkward manner. You two have built a special relationship, which means both of you have mutual feelings. As the guy, you need to step it up a notch and make her yours. If you have been successful in following these rules, then you should know that she LOVES being with you. This should make it easier for you to ask her out to dinner.

9.) When she agrees to go out with you, do NOT be nervous. This will show her that you want more than just a friendly relationship. If she says yes, then she is interested in the same as well, but do NOT ruin this opportunity!

10.) Engage in conversation like you normally would. When she is deeply looking into your eyes and smiling uncontrollably, you have gotten her in your grasp. Now, slowly open up to her and let her know how you feel about her. Ease into the conversation; there is no need to rush. If you do this correctly, she should express her mutual feelings to you. With this being said, ask her if she would like to be your girlfriend. You two have built a bond that can be worked off of, but also be aware of the fact that she may be thinking you are moving too fast. If this is the case, be respectful towards her feelings (as hard as it may be).

Essential Question #4 (Group 2)

Simplify and analyze Hrothgar's parting words to Beowulf, lines 1708-1767

In the beginning of Hrothgar's parting words, he mentions that "all things are in [God's] power" (1711). In other words, events that occur, such as "a noble man's mind to experience happiness" (1712-1713) are all God's doing. God determines the fate of people on earth. Hrothgar, then, talks about this noble man and how the blessings from God can cause arrogance to develop. This arrogance will steer into something "insufficient" (1732). With this arrogance, the noble man will forget "his destiny and disregard the honors given to him [by] God" (1735-1737). In other words, Hrothgar gives Beowulf an example of a noble man who allowed his blessings to make him an egotistical being and warns Beowulf to swallow his pride because it will or could hurt him. After giving Beowulf this warning, Hrothgar gives Beowulf an insight of his own experiences as a ruler. He speaks of how he thought the "time had come when [he] thought [he] had no enemies left on earth" (1756-1757), which turned out to be false when Grendel came along. Thus, he is also telling Beowulf to watch his back. Hrothgar thanks God at the end of his speech and, immediately after, tells Beowulf he will reward him with presents the next day. Two things are wrong with that statement. Hrothgar has been a horrible follower of God. He has guided his people into the opposite direction of God and sins almost every day; yet, he is thanking God. Another flaw is Beowulf's acceptance of these gifts. As a Christ figure, Beowulf should have no desire to accept gifts! He is known as a selfless man. Fortunately, we do find out later in the poem that he gives the gifts to the treasure-giver.

Essential Question #3

How is Wealtheow portrayed? What does she do? What can we expect of Anglo- Saxon women?

Wealtheow is Hrothgar's queen. Since she is the queen, she is "adorned with gold [and a] proud woman" (606). When the men came to the feast, Wealtheow greeted them "mindful of ceremon[y]" (605) and "offered the cup to the Danish king" (608). She sounds more like a servant than a queen, acting as if she has to follow certain orders . Wealtheow spends most of the time "offering the [...] cup [and] welcom[ing]" (612-617) her guests. We can conclude that Wealtheow is a hospitable woman. She acts in a manner as if it is her job to take care of the guests. We can assume that this is what is expected from Anglo- Saxon women. They must care for their guests and keep order while their husbands enjoy themselves.

Essential Question #2

What are the social obligations of a hero?

The social obligations of a hero are to be a role model, make a difference, and be a modest person. As a hero, all eyes will be upon this person. A hero is one who children look up to and strive to become. Thus, a hero needs to act accordingly and always be a respectable human being. A hero needs to be aware of the injustices of his or her community and take a stand to improve what is necessary. Not only does this apply to one's community, but also to the world. No matter how far a place is, one always has the power to make a difference. It is only a matter of taking action, which is why a hero is important to society. The hero will set an example for others to follow. Modesty is also key in a hero. If a hero is not modest, then people will not give the hero the respect he or she deserves. A hero should not feel the need to take credit for a good deed. A hero should do things out of the kindness of his or her heart, not for publicity. For those who want to be a hero, strive for justice because the goodness that you bring to your people will be the reward in return.

Essential Question #1 (Part A)

How do we create division in our society?

Money plays a huge role in dividing our society. If one is paid more than another, then one is better, wealthier, at a higher status, and respected. A wealthy man can invest a large sum of money for his child's education, whereas a poor man, who is struggling to make enough money to put food on the table for his kids, will not be able to. Thus, the wealthier man's child will have the upper hand in education compared to the poor man's child who will not. Eventually, this will lead to the wealthy child receiving an ample amount of opportunities to succeed further in his education unlike the poor child, who will struggle to work extensive hours in order to help his father make money. Not only does the wealthy man obtain a higher status by being paid a lot, but his child will live on a higher status and never suffer the pains of work.

Another area in which divisions are created is in school. Whoever has the most friends is considered popular. All the kids will want to be that person's friend. When this happens, the popular kid's status elevates. Due to this elevation, other kids are looked upon at a lower level. School sports are also divided. Although ten girls are on a team and attend practice every day, there will be a few girls who will play a lot better at the sport. Those few girls will get the most playing time on the court, causing a divide between the "starters" and the "bench warmers".

On a last note, because there are so many divisions in society, people strive to be on the better half. Due to this, there is a competitiveness that spreads among co-workers for a promotion, students for the top of their class, or applicants to be admitted into college. Looking on the other side of the spectrum, if there were no divisions in society, there would be no sports teams, no principal of a school to watch over things, or students having a desire to strive for the best due to the lack of incentive. How would society adjust or react?

Outliers Ch. 1 & 2 Response

Success

After reading the first chapter of Outliers, I concluded that opportunity, luck, and my desire to succeed are the structural elements that made me academically successful. My parents pulled me out of the public school system to provide a better learning environment for me in a private school. If it was not for my parents’ desire to better my education, then I would not have had the opportunity to go to Our Lady’s and then, to Trinity Catholic. I believe luck played a role in my success because I am fortunate to be part of a family, who can provide money for my education. If I was brought up in a less fortunate household, I would not be attending a private school or be given the opportunities of extra- curricular activities. The most important element that has made me academically successful is my desire to succeed. If I did not care about my education, then I would not be doing very well in school. Since I believe in taking complete advantage of my education, I do my schoolwork to the best of my ability.
The only way I can think of being tracked is the fact I graduated private kindergarten a year earlier than most kids my age. Ever since then, I have been one of the youngest in my class, yet also considered mature for my age. Technically, I am supposed to be a sophomore, but I am a junior. In a way, I think I am an outlier of an outlier. According to the hockey statistics, the older boys benefited and succeeded the most. I believe I am academically successful, yet one of the youngest in my class. Unless Gladwell’s theory applied specifically to athletes, my age does not seem to affect my ability to succeed
As a child, school came easy to me. I never strived to do well on tests and assignments. At the most, I looked over my notes before a test and managed to get an A. I believe it was partly because I was confident that I knew the subject well enough to get all the answers correct. I never strived to be the best, but my teachers always told my parents that I had that potential if I put a little effort into my work. I never understood what this meant, until I was ranked third in my class in the first quarter of my freshman year. As a freshman, my goal was to be on the Principal’s List, which did not take much effort, but once I saw that I was ranked number three in my class, I decided to challenge myself and strive to be number one. Ever since I achieved this goal, I continue to challenge myself by taking, what is considered, tough courses. I strongly believe taking the easy way out is not the route to success.
I have received a large advantage by being in an AP English course. I have a jump-start by taking a college- level course in high school. My writing is most likely better than most college preparatory students because I am taking a more rigorous class and learning things that college students learn. The kids that are taking a high school English class will learn the things I know now a year later. My grammar, speaking, and writing skills are also, most likely, at a higher level than the students taking a regular English course. This class will look better on my college resume and higher my GPA if I do well. These two things are also advantages I have over most students.
I have an accumulated advantage because I stayed consistent with my schooling for eleven years for almost six hours a day. If I am not in school, I read books for school over the summer and do assignments that are assigned with each book. Another advantage I have is that some teachers know me better than others because they have taught me more than once. I am also accustomed to their teaching styles and know what they expect of me. After eleven years of schooling, I learned that it is okay to make mistakes because it will only better my chances of succeeding.

Final Essay on Sin

Stairway to Heaven

When one commits a sin, one has the choice to confess it or conceal it. If one chooses to confess their sin, their bond with God becomes stronger. If one chooses to conceal their sin, their bond with God weakens, causing a separation between Him and the sinner. Those who choose to conceal their sins forget that “God sees everything” (Miller 110), which defeats the purpose of concealing a sin. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Hester Prynne take different approaches in dealing with their sins. By analyzing their approaches, it can be clearly seen how incorrectly Dorian Gray dealt with his sins in The Picture of Dorian Gray and confirms that “nothing […] he could do would cleanse him till he had told his own sin” (Wilde 228).
In The Crucible, John Proctor committed a sin by sleeping with another woman, which breaks his wife’s trust. Proctor chose to keep his sin private, vowing to never touch his mistress again: “I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again” (Miller 23). Proctor regretted his misconduct and took an approach to better his situation by ending the affair, but he still concealed his sin. By concealing his sin, Proctor fought an internal battle and struggled to regain the trust he lost from his wife. He finally confessed his sin to the court when his wife was falsely accused of doing witchcraft, in hopes to find redemption. When this did not happen and things worsened, Proctor concluded that the court, which was known to speak God’s law, would not give him the absolution he sought for. When it came time to sign his confession, Proctor’s first thought was to sign the paper in order to live, but Rebecca Nurse made him realize he was being selfish, which made him change his mind to be hanged. In the end, Proctor found the absolution he sought for and reached the Kingdom of Heaven.
Unlike Proctor, Dorian Gray chose to do otherwise. Proctor confessed his sin, which led him to be publicly humiliated. Although he “suffer[ed] public shame” (Wilde 228), his great act of “public atonement” (228) was his death. By confessing his sin and making the decision to be hanged, he only gained respect from his community. On the other hand, Dorian laughed at how ridiculous the thought of confessing his sin was: "Confess? Did it mean that he was to confess? To give himself up, and be put to death?" (227- 228). Dorian felt "that the idea was monstrous" (228). Dorian chose to forget his sins instead of finding absolution and lifting them off his chest. In order to be cleansed, he needed to confess. Dorian chose to be selfish by wanting to live, unlike Proctor who put justice before his life, bringing him closer to God.
After struggling to find absolution, Proctor realized he would find goodness in God’s kingdom. He found redemption by putting his trust in God. Proctor went to Elizabeth and the court in search of forgiveness, when he should have allowed God to be his judge. Even though Proctor sought redemption in the wrong places, he was able to find it. Dorian, on the other hand, did not take the time to search for forgiveness. Dorian believed that he "had been forgiven" (100) when he wrote his "first passionate love-letter [...] addressed to a dead girl" (103). Dorian did not physically apologize to Sibyl, who was not even alive to accept his apology, nullifying any atonement. Dorian took the easy way out and thought it was acceptable to write a letter to Sibyl, solely to please her. He did not mean any of the things he said and was not sincerely apologetic for what he did. Instead, he called believed “she ha[d] no right to kill herself. It was selfish of her” (103). Dorian blamed Sibyl for her death, when he was the one at fault. Unlike Dorian, Proctor acknowledged his faults and made an attempt to fix them.
Like Proctor, who said, “God sees everything” (Miller 110), Basil told Dorian of God’s power over man: “Yes […] to see your soul. But only God can do that” (Wilde 156). Although the portrait was hidden behind a purple curtain, Dorian knew it was there and most importantly, God also knew it was there. Thus, it was not actually concealed. God saw Proctor’s moral intentions and was able to cleanse his soul. Dorian, on the other hand, had immoral intentions, which prevented him from being cleansed.
Abigail Williams, in The Crucible, slept with a married man and did not take her sin seriously, making a game out of it with the court. Even after Proctor told her that he would rather “cut off [his] hand before […] reach[ing] for [her] again” (Miller 23), Abigail still tried to convince him otherwise: “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep. […] You love me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!” (24). Abigail went to the extent of threatening the other girls from revealing her sins: “Let either of you breathe a word […] about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and […] bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (20). In response to Proctor’s confession, Abigail acted like a drama queen, avoiding her confession: “If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again!” (111). Abigail did end up leaving and lived the rest of her life as a prostitute in Boston, which separated herself from God in the process. As a result, Abigail did not get cleansed from her sin, which remained in her soul.
Like Abigail, Dorian Gray chose to turn away from his sins. Dorian thought he would be able to get away from them by suppressing them behind a purple curtain. Unfortunately, his portrait tricked him when he was about to permanently get rid of his inner ugliness. He could not hide from his sins any longer. Dorian was the "face without a heart" (Wilde 220). His portrait bore the suffering he should have felt. Abigail walked away from her sins and ended up becoming a prostitute. Likewise, Dorian tried forgetting and turning away from his sins, but ended up dying as a sinner without being cleansed. Neither Abigail nor Dorian learned their lessons. The two characters did not confess their sins, which only brought them suffering. If Dorian confessed his sins, he could have gained entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, but instead, he died a sinner.
Arthur Dimmesdale, in The Scarlet Letter, had difficulty confessing his sin because he was a prominent role model in his community. Although he wanted to spill his iniquitous heart and speak the truth, Dimmesdale was hiding his secret to benefit the many people who looked up to him, suffering for his community’s well-being. If his eminence was besmirched, then people would lose the hope he gave to them and the faith they had in him. By keeping his sin within him, he thought he was doing the right thing, but in the end, it caused Dimmesdale to be tormented by God through the diabolical workings of Roger Chillingworth and the physical punishments he gave himself.
With Hester’s support, Dimmesdale confessed his sin and passed away into Eternal Justice, leaving his pain and agony behind. Dimmesdale’s “public atonement” (Wilde 228) was his death, which “impress[ed] on his admirers [that] in the view of Infinite Purity, we are all sinners alike [and] show freely to the world […] some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” (Hawthorne 231). Dimmesdale may have suffered public shame if he was alive after he confessed, but he died leaving a message behind to his people. After seven miserable years of suffering, Dimmesdale finally realized that God was merciful. This was something Dorian was too selfish to think about. He was more concerned with living than finding absolution and repenting. Although Dimmesdale took a painful path in search of absolution, he was cleansed, and his soul went up to God’s kingdom.
Unlike Dimmesdale, who took his sin seriously and physically tormented himself, Dorian Gray avoided torment and put it all on his portrait, so he would not have to suffer: “Like the gods of the Greeks, he would be strong, and fleet, and joyous. What did it matter what happened to the colored image on the canvas? He would be safe. That was everything” (Wilde 110). When Dorian recognized his ugliness, he thrusted it further away, whereas Dimmesdale took the initiative to change. Dimmesdale may have taken the wrong approach of absolving his sin, but he had good intentions and made the effort to find absolution. Dorian simply shoved it away further and further until he could not take it anymore. Both died in the end, but Dimmesdale was cleansed and went to God’s kingdom, whereas Dorian died as a sinner.
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne was forced to bear her sin because it was physically visible. The public shame she experienced was brutal. The sin she committed caused a sphere to form around herself as people avoided her, but she accepted her punishment and made the most out of wearing her scarlet letter: “Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself, [and] employed in making coarse garments for the poor” (Hawthorne 77). Hester lived miserably, raising her daughter with what she could provide. Hester turned the other cheek when people would taunt her, like a true Christian: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Mt 5: 39-40). Hester bore her sin so humbly that the townspeople could not look at her with scorn: “Many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able. […] The scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun’s bosom” (Hawthorne 146-147). Through Hester's kind actions, "society was inclined to show its former victim a more benign countenance than she cared to be favored with" (147). Out of all the characters from the three texts, Hester bore the most public shame and did so with great humility.
Unlike Hester, who lived out her sin and dealt with her public shame honorably, Dorian did not care. Basil warned him of all the gossip and foul things people were saying about him, but Dorian showed the slightest bit of concern: “I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself don’t interest me. They have not got the charm of novelty” (Wilde 153). Dorian only got tired of people talking about him, but did not do anything to better his position or reform his ways. Hester gained respect from her community by doing good deeds. In comparison, society may have looked to Dorian for his aesthetics, which only hid his true self, but Hester was respected for her acts of self-betterment and penitence.
Proctor, Dimmesdale, and Hester confessed their sins, bringing them into the presence of God. Abigail and Dorian, who did not confess, were left to the mercy of the Devil. It was their fault that they did not receive God’s goodness. By turning away from their sins, Abigail and Dorian only grew further away from God, which confirms that “nothing [they] could do would cleanse [them] till [they] told [their] own sin[s]” (228). Miller, Hawthorne, and Wilde together voice an important message to society: “Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred” (Hawthorne 231).With this dictum, society is called to replicate the atonement of Proctor, Dimmesdale, and Hester. By following their lead, society will be showered in the light of God.

PODG: Sibyl Vane Character Analysis

Sibyl Vane was a lively young girl, who allowed her innocence to overpower her common sense.
After Dorian Gray, who Sibyl called Prince Charming, lured her into his trap, she immediately became madly in love with him: “Prince Charming rules life for us now” (64). Without putting any thought into who this man was, Sibyl allowed the love she had for Dorian to take over her mind. She became so madly in love with him to the point where she began performing poorly on stage. Her reason behind this was that she could not “mimic [a passion] that burn[ed] [her] like fire” (91). Sibyl was an actress, which meant she was a professional at mimicking emotions. Her excuse was not appropriate; it only showed how obsessed she was with Dorian. Sibyl ended up getting criticized for her poor acting by the person she was thinking about during her performance, and who she was eager to see once it was over. After Dorian finished ranting about her, Sibyl was shocked at the love of her life’s feelings. She killed herself because of Dorian’s harsh words. If she used her common sense, then she would have realized Dorian had no appreciation for her and truly did not care about her. Sibyl Vane did not deserve to die. Her death was the result of Dorian Gray’s corruption over her heart.
Sibyl Vane is like a magazine to Dorian. He wanted to buy her so badly and even asked Lord Henry to help him acquire her: “You, who know all the secrets of life, tell me how to charm Sibyl Vane to love me!” (59). Dorian was satisfied once he flipped the last page. However, there was nothing left for Sibyl, but the recycling bin.
Sibyl Vane is like a child, who is easily swayed.

PODG: Dorian Gray Character Analysis

Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray was a self- absorbed man with absolutely no appreciation for what he had.

Dorian Gray was beyond beautiful and Lord Henry made him aware of this: “You are a wonderful creation. […] The gods have been good to you” (23-24). Instead of feeling grateful that he was gifted with such beauty, Dorian acted in a selfish manner and wished to stay young forever. Another instance of Dorian’s selfish attitude was during his love affair with Sibyl Vane. Dorian should have taken Sibyl’s explanation for her poor performance as a compliment instead of throwing a fit about it. Dorian avoided feeling remorse by finding unreasonable justification as to why he had the complete right to yell at Sibyl: "During the three terrible hours that the play had lasted he had lived centuries of pain" (95). Dorian did not need to sit in the audience, he chose to, so he should not be complaining. If Dorian really loved Sibyl, then he would have appreciated her for her devotion and gratitude towards him. Dorian should have also appreciated Basil instead of killing him. Basil was the only friend Dorian had who still had faith in him and wanted the best for him. Basil adored Dorian and "worship[ed]" (117) him. All Dorian did in return was feel a "terrible joy [...] that the man […] was to be burdened for the rest of his life" (157) when he was about to reveal the portrait to Basil.

Dorian is to Lord Henry as an experiment is to a scientist. Lord Henry simply uses Dorian as an experiment that he can test his ideas on. It does not matter to him whether Dorian’s life is at stake, or if the experiment will harm him. Likewise, a scientist is eager to test things they want to try out. Once they are gifted with the opportunity to test their ideas out, nothing else matters. The object being tested is simply an object being tested.

Dorian is like a little girl, who complains if he does not get what he wants.

PODG: Witticisms

1. The truth comes out when the leaves fall off the tree, leaving it bare with nothing to hide behind.

2. They say that two wrongs don't make a right, but a negative times a negative makes a positive.

3. We shed tears when we peel an onion, slowly revealing the real person at the core.

4. Love makes a person crazy, but a crazy person never finds love.

5. Those who make fun of hard workers now will be the ones working hard for them in the future.

6. There is no such thing as humility if a person knows they are humble.

7. Love has no definition, but it fills in the blanks with emotion.

8. Finding a partner is like tasting the flavors of ice cream. If you don't taste them all, how are you going to know which one satisfies your taste buds the best?

9. How is a person supposed to decide between love and money if a person needs money to buy their love?

10. Don't feel bad when you hear people talking about you, for chatter is the seed of fame.

PODG: Ch. 19- 20

"Yes, he would be good, and the hideous thing that he has hidden away would no longer be a terror to him. He felt as if the load had been lifted from him already" (227).

Dorian felt like this when he wrote his "first passionate love-letter [...] addressed to a dead girl" (103). Just like Dorian believed he "had been forgiven" (100) after writing the love letter, he believed the hideous thing would go away by doing a good deed. Dorian thought the picture would stop looking ugly if he was good. This was his only concern. Dorian was not actually sorry for what he did. He only wanted to cure his anxiety, so he would not look at the portrait in horror. Even if the portrait had the ability to look better, Dorian's intentions were neither selfless nor in search for forgiveness, so he would not have given the portrait any reason to improve. This only caused the portrait's mouth to curve in hypocrisy, which defined Dorian's real intentions. He was only going to be good, in order to change his portrait. Even if Dorian's one good deed had good intentions, it was not enough to make up for the many sins Dorian committed. At the thought of confessing, which he knew the portrait was asking of him, Dorian laughed at how ridiculous the thought was: "Confess? Did it mean that he was to confess? To give himself up, and be put to death?" (227- 228). Dorian felt "that the idea was monstrous" (228). In order to be considered a good person, he needed to confess. Otherwise, he really was being a hypocrite. Dorian knew the portrait would have given him support for his confession, but he chose to stab the portrait, which ended up killing himself. Either way, he was faced with death. If Dorian confessed, he would have been put to death. If he did not, he still would have died, but as a sinner.

"Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage" (229).

Dorian thought he would be able to get away with this situation, like he did in all the other tight situations he encountered. Unfortunately, his portrait tricked him. Dorian killed his conscience, which was always a part of him and he chose to suppress it behind a purple curtain. He could not hide from it any longer. By stabbing his conscience, he was stabbing himself. Dorian was the "face without a heart" (220). His portrait bore the suffering he should have felt. The moral of the book should be that one cannot get away from their sin. Like Dorian, Abigail from The Crucible walked away from her sins and ended up becoming a prostitute. Likewise, Dorian tried forgetting and turning away from his sins, but ended up dying as a sinner. Neither Abigail nor Dorian learned their lesson.

PODG: Ch. 16-18

"A cry of joy broke from his lips. The man who had been shot in the thicket was James Vane" (214).

Once again, Dorian gets out of another sticky situation. Even at gun point, he manages to talk James out of shooting him: "Eighteen years! Set me under the lamp and look at my face" (196). At first, afraid that he will also be shot in the woods, Dorian "wish[s] [the concept of shooting] were stopped forever [because] the whole thing is hideous and cruel" (208). If it is really that bad, then why was it so easy to stab Basil? One would think stabbing somebody is more grotesque than shooting somebody. It was wrong of Dorian to act out of hatred, in the spur of the moment, especially since he knew what he did was sinful. Dorian wonders "what sort of life would his be if, day and night, shadows of his crime were to peer at him from silence" (206), preventing him from forgetting what happened. Dorian can be seen as a coward because "it is the coming of Death that terrifies" (209) him, which is justified by all the times he feels or does faint but, apparently he has "no terror of Death" (209) itself. Dorian should have accepted the fact that what comes around, goes around. Did he really think he would be safe once word came out that he was the reason behind Sibyl's death? Sadly, Dorian is still too self-absorbed and worried that he could get shot the way the man did, but once he finds out James Vane was the one shot and died, he rejoices. It is sickening to find somebody happy about another person's death.


"What sort of life would his be if, day and night, shadows of his crime were to peer at him from silent corners, to mock him from secret places, to whisper in his ear as he sat at the feast, to wake him with icy fingers as he lay asleep!" (206).

Dorian knows what he did was wrong, but instead of opening up and confessing his wrongdoing, he believes the best way to free himself from this tension is by forgetting what happened the night he killed Basil. Dorian blamed his misery on Basil, but realizes "innocent blood had been spilt" (189). Thus, making Basil not at fault for Dorian's supposed misery. If Basil caused the misery, then Dorian would not have said this. Dorian refuses to believe that he caused his own misery. Dorian also mentions that he "wish [he] could love!" (210). When love was at his feet, begging for him to take her back, Dorian verbally tore her to pieces with his harsh words. That was also his fault. On the bright side, he does realize that he is "too much concentrated on [him]self" (210). Now, it is a matter of what he does to fix that or if he even bothers to do so.