However in order to evaluate whether it is an immoral story we must first consider whether it is consistent in this view that art need not have a purpose. The portrait itself acts as ‘the most magical of mirrors’, revealing to Dorian the destructive effects of immorality upon his soul. Furthermore the yellow book that Lord Henry gives to Dorian becomes a symbol of the consequences of immoral art; Dorian bases his life and actions around it and its influence leads to the corruption of his soul and ultimately his death. To critics this may well suggest the contrary of Wilde’s preface, the yellow book emphasises the powerful
Being gullible and immature, Dorian’s efforts to follow Lord Henry’s teaching causes Dorian to lose his way, and his soul. With these characters, Wilde’s novel explores the ideas of art, beauty, and pleasure, but the main theme is of their consequences. In particular, there are two passages that exemplify this theme, indicate the plot of the novel, and strike the reader. The first important passage is the when Gray strikes the Faustian bargain for his soul. Basil is finishing his painting of Dorian while Dorian and Lord Henry are in the garden.
The repeated imagery of “essential oil of truth” throughout the novel suggests the purity of what Woolf is searching for in order to draw out and expose the found truth about the position and demoralisation of women. This position is one endemic to Woolf’s patriarchal context, whereby women were seen as inferior, however more importantly focusing on man’s own superiority. Unsuccessful in her search Woolf turns to historical illusions and biased opinions to analyse and draw out truth from. “Perhaps now it would be better to give up seeking for the truth, and receiving on one’s head an avalanche of opinion hot as lava… to light the lamp”. The red imagery of the lava represents the burning down of truth in that it is pervasive and destructive, therefore symbolising illusion.
Therefore, it can be strongly seen that Rossetti feelings are portrayed through her work. Rossetti shows a consistent negative image of the goblin men throughout the poem, as nothing ever positive is ever said about ‘men’. The dialogue of the male voices in the poem are tasteless, ‘come buy come buy’, and Rossetti creates a strong dehumanizing effect on the goblin men in the poem as it progresses to cause the reader to be disgusted by them. This adds to the surprise of Laura being persuaded by the goblin men and shocks the reader. The dehumanization of the goblin men can be seen where they are
In the long controversy that has been The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn’s history, the novel has not only been censored and criticized, but also banned for an array of perceived failings. The work has been accused of everything from bad language to low moral tone to racism. However, Mark Twain, the author, wrote this narrative not to discriminate, but to deject slavery and criticize southern white culture. He purposefully created a realistic setting for the story in order to further its impact. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn is not racist and should not be banned from any American Literature curriculum.
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Theme Dorian Gray’s ideals and character alter throughout Oscar Wilde’s literary work, The Picture of Dorian Gray, as a result of the corruption of the antagonist, Lord Henry Wotton. The “unforeseen death” of Dorian’s supposable love, Sibyl Vane, of which he was indirectly responsible for, causes him to become cognizant that the alluring portrait given to him by his beloved companion, Basil Hallward, has answered his baneful prayer. The painting absorbed all of his sins and wickedness sparing his flawless appearance of all blemishes caused by such demeanor. Dorian’s morals and values are marred by his epiphany of his own pulchritude and its relation to the portrait, also the motif. Like Dorian Gray’s decisions, the foreshadowing, motif, and hubris throughout the novel also reinforce the theme of moral conscience versus vanity.
Throughout Much Ado, Shakespeare constantly shows how love can alter a person, how the presence or even chance of love moulds the entire persona of each individual presents. This shaping can be formed in positive and negative ways, as the absence of love can turn bitter and distasteful… Claudio is notorious for being overly dramatic throughout the play, however the presence of love only exaggerates things, it completely deludes him into a besotted trance that makes him view things almost through rose-tinted spectacles as he questions “can the world buy such a jewel?” which shows, in his opinion within early stages of the play, Hero is the definition of the ideal suitor. This admiration makes him beyond blissful and matching to Hero he forms towards the comedic stereotype of perfect. However once “love” is drastically taken away prior to the wedding, Claudio changes yet again in to the extremities of pure rage, selfishness and arrogance…He almost instantaneously believes Don John’s lies and orders Leonarto to “take her back again”, without love Claudio is shown to be a complete opposite person in comparison to the poetic gentleman he was once portrayed as. Benedick’s “bachelor” attitude that he uses as a form of protection initially dominates his character as maliciously rude, witty and obnoxious, he swears that he “truly” loves “none” as he will die “with anger, with sickness, or with hunger but not with love”.
Human flaws are weaknesses in personality which result in outcomes that lead to disreputable actions. Through the dramatic irony of the monologue, the reader is able to gain an understanding of the social attitudes and patriarchal values in the Victorian Era which the human flaws in the monologue are based on. The study of “My Last Duchess” offers a significant understanding of the male ego and a male’s desire to be in control in a relationship. The factors determining a male’s desire to be in control are evident through Browning’s portrayal of the Duke through his need to retain his pride, extreme jealousy and his need to objectify women in order to satisfy the male ego. Browning contrasts the Duke’s representation of the duchess with the factual representation emphasising the Duke’s manic state and causing the audience to strongly oppose the duke as a person.
Mary Shelley demonstrates this concept through Victor’s pursuit for knowledge, caused by the change of values between the Romantic Era and the Age of Enlightenment. As electricity was discovered, Victor’s admiration for the subject of Galvanism provides him a “thirst for knowledge”, reinforced by his “longing to penetrate the secrets of nature”. This sexual allusion emphasises Victor’s loss of Romantic values which ultimately leads to an extremely arrogant attitude where he “bestows animation upon lifeless matter” and creates the “hideously deformed” monster that metaphorically represents the greed that blinds him. Its horrific actions, namely the killing of people closest to Victor, force him to finally realize that they “died by my hands”. Thus, Shelley warns that the destructiveness of Man’s intrinsic desires for knowledge stems from the change in values.
Introduction: Post the Lippincott version - Wilde tried to defend novel with preface of English version. Supports the comment made as in the preface, Wilde directly states that "Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming" Victorian society is very hypocritical and felt that Dorian was a presentation of Wilde; they thought he was corrupt and he was facing trials. Paragraph - Dorian: Sells soul metaphorically upon seeing painting, realising his own beauty and Lord Henry's influence - "I would give my soul for that" Shows that Lord Henry's influence has made Dorian worship aesthetic items. "Then had come Lord Henry Wotton with his strange panegyric on youth, his terrible warning of its brevity". Dorian is no longer attracted by inner beauty but instead is excited and intrigued by exterior forms.