Essay, Research Paper
At the beginning of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Basil paints a portrait of Dorian Gray. Throughout the novel, Dorian is viewed and is treated by the world as art. As art, Dorian is constantly changed by the influences of his different artists. The most influential and main artist of Dorian is Lord Henry. Lord Henry corrupts Dorian into a vain, selfish, arrogant, hedonistic, and cruel man. A similar artist to art relation exists between Mr. Bytes and John Merrick in the Elephant Man. Mr. Bytes runs a carnival freak show and displays John as the Elephant Man. His major deformities attract business. Mr. Bytes changes John by making him feel as though he was a less than human monster and by causing the world to view him as such.
John was found and claimed by Mr. Bytes when he was a boy. For his entire life, John has been displayed as a freak by his owner, Mr. Bytes. Just as animals are owned by humans, so is John by Mr. Bytes. This dehumanization of John continues as he is constantly displayed as an animal. As a result of this is, John no longer believes himself a human, but rather an animal. This is clearly seen when Mr. Treves purchases John, again as an animal, from Mr. Bytes. When John is asked to talk, Mr. Bytes answers that he cannot, and later when John is asked by Mr. Treves to talk, privately, he responds, “I am not supposed to talk.” John does not say that he does not speak well, or that he does not know how, but that he is not supposed to talk, because animals do not talk. Even if he is saying that Mr. Bytes does not want him to talk, he has caused John to believe that he should not talk either. Mr. Bytes has convinced John, by years of dehumanization, to believe that he is a monster. He is the artist who makes John think that he is an animal.
When the reader first meets Dorian, it is only through a story told by Basil. Basil’s story reveals little, if anything, about Dorian. Similarly, when Lady Brandon describes Dorian, nothing is revealed about him. Little about Dorian is revealed in the beginning of the book, because there is nothing to tell about him: he is unfinished. He is pure, innocent, and uninteresting. Only when Lord Henry meets Dorian does he become interesting as well as corrupt. Coincidentally, it is only after Lord Henry talks to Dorian alone in the garden and tells him about vanity, arrogance, and hedonism, that the painting is complete. This clearly is a reference to the defilement of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden as Lord Henry begins his contamination in the garden. Lord Henry tells Dorian to be vain: “Because you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having…You have a wonderful beautiful face…And beauty is a from of genius” (38). Lord Henry teaches Dorian to worship his youth because that is what makes him beautiful. This causes Dorian to make the wish to stay forever like the painting, young and beautiful, which causes the rest of his descent into evil. This is the first of Lord Henry’s many propagandized decay of Dorian Gray.
Mr. Bytes does not only convince John that he is an animal, but the world too. At first, John’s show is closed because the crowd could not handle John’s ugliness. At this point John is sub-human. Although the world begins to realize that John is human while in the care of Mr. Treves, when Mr. Bytes steals John back and returns him to the freak show, he again creates him into a monster. The world views John as a monster again and still persecutes him for his ugliness. Their prejudice has not changed. In the subway, John bumps into a little girl and she cries. A crowd builds and chases John down. As they begin to approach, John shouts, “I am not an animal!” Although Mr. Bytes has again brought the ugliness out in John, he has failed this time to dehumanize him. John has learned that he is not an animal. Within a few days, John kills himself.
Dorian continues his life of deception and cruelties. He causes a young woman’s death and even kills Basil. The world how ever still treats him like art. As art is unchanging, the world refuses to see the change in Dorian’s personality and only can view him as beautiful. Lord Henry, by indirectly causing Dorian’s youth, has caused the world to view Dorian as art. This view never changes, because as art, Dorian never changes. Although the world’s view of him does not change, his view of himself does. Dorian has learnt what an animal he has become. He curses himself, and says that he must kill the past, so as he tries to destroy the painting he kills himself.
Lord Henry and Mr. Bytes corrupt their art. Lord Henry pollutes Dorian and causes him to be evil. Mr. Bytes causes John to believe that he is an animal. Lord Henry and Mr. Bytes also both change the way the world views their art. Mr. Bytes focuses on John’s deformities and makes the world view John as an animal. This causes the world to think that John is evil. By convincing Dorian that his youth is everything, Dorian makes a wish to retain his youth forever. Lord Henry has caused Dorian to look beautiful forever. This causes the world to only see Dorian’s beauty and continuously see him as good. Similarly, both Dorian and John conclude what they really are. John understands that what people think and how he looks, mean nothing. What you are is not based on looks or thoughts but on actions. Dorian realizes this very same conclusion. He realizes that he did nothing in his life and enjoyed nothing with his beauty. Dorian hates himself and his beauty. In the end, he knows that he has done wrong and concludes that looks are nothing; actions define who you are.
357
Другие работы по теме:
Orwell Shooting An Elephant Essay Research Paper
In George Orwells ?Shooting an Elephant?, Orwell is faced with a terrible decision. By taking the life of the elephant which so wrongly took the life of the Indian, the killing was then justified in Orwells mind. He was taking a
The Epitaph By Thomas Grey Essay Research
Paper In the Epitaph, Thomas Gray shows his discontent toward the way that life and death are categorized on this planet. He speaks of earth as a place which holds people for the time being that they are going through this grand cycle of what is called life.
George Orwells
“Shooting An Elephant” Essay, Research Paper In George Orwell’s essay “Shooting An Elephant,” he writes about racial prejudice. Orwell is a British officer in Burma. The author is, “for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British”(842). Orwell feels caught in the middle of this cultural struggle.
Geore Orwell Essay Research Paper The True
Geore Orwell Essay, Research Paper The True meaning behind the Killing of the Elephant An elephant has been shot and killed. Wt a mere act of violence or does it go beyond that? In this situation, the killing of the elephant goes far behind self-defense and security. It s taken to a personal level, which leads to difficult complications.
Whispers Essay Research Paper WhispersReading Orwells
Whispers Essay, Research Paper Whispers Reading Orwell?s “Shooting An Elephant” helped me to remember about many decisions I have made, including a decision I made on a warm senior day of high school during lunch. “Shooting An Elephant” is ingeniously linked to everyday life. Orwell writes about his experiences as a political intruder in a western country, how it affected his life, and how these people influenced him to kill an elephant.
Elephant Behaviors Essay Research Paper When you
Elephant Behaviors Essay, Research Paper When you think of an elephant, you probably think of its trunk, big ears, tusks or huge size. You might even think of famous elephants such as Babar or Dumbo. Those elephants may seem fascinating, but the elephants in the wild are even more intriguing. Besides its long trunk or sharp tusks, its behavior are peculiar also.
The Very Dfferent Same Essays
– I Have A Dream And Shooting An Elephant Essay, Research Paper The Very Different Same Essays Both Martin Luther King s I have a Dream and George Orwell s Shooting an Elephant are essays about denouncing racism through effective language manipulations, for example, figurative language and precise diction.
Shooting An Elefant By George Orwell Essay
, Research Paper In the essay ?Shooting an Elephant,? George Orwell describes an internal conflict between his personal morals and his duty to his country?moreover, his duty to the white man?s reputation. Orwell?s decision to kill the elephant is a direct result of oppression. Oppression perhaps goes deeper than the average man would imagine, noticeably hindering even the lives of the oppressors.
Orwell And The Elephant Essay Research Paper
In his essay Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell explains how the controlling authorities in a hostile country are not controlling the country’s population but are in fact a mere tool of the populous. Orwell’s experience with the elephant provided the insight for his essay, and gives a clear example of the control the natives have over the authorities.
Circus World Essay Research Paper Finally after
Circus World Essay, Research Paper Finally, after what seemed like a year in the car, we were there. I was ready to get out and see this Circus Museum that my mom had always talked about. We spent another day making the great trek from our car to the entrance. I looked up at the old man selling tickets, but it was not an old man, it was a clown! This place may have some promise after all.
Oscar Wilde
’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay, Research Paper Main characters: Dorian Gray–> 20 years old at the beginning of the book and around 40 at the end. A very handsome young man. he stays young because he sold his soul to the devil.
The Use Of Symbols In Wilde
’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay, Research Paper THE USE OF SYMBOLS IN OSCAR WILDE’S THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY What is a symbol? In the broadest sense of the word, a symbol can be anything that signifies something else (Peepre: 58). Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure’s dyadic theory of signs can well be applied when talking of literary symbols; after all, symbols are signs and vice versa.
Dorian Gray Essay Research Paper The influence
Dorian Gray Essay, Research Paper The influence of evil can take over a whole community. Not only can it take over a whole community, it can also take over the soul. In the short novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray,
The Destruction Of The Human Spirit In
Frankenstein And The Picture Of Dorian Grey Essay, Research Paper The human spirit is one of the most beautiful forces in the world, but it is also one of the most vulnerable.In the novels Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, this idea of the human spirit is portrayed clearly.Both novels have similar aspects about the human spirit, but they also have their differences.Both novels have main characters who are influenced greatly by someone that they admire, and they are destroyed by that influence.The difference that these novels have is that in Frankenstein, the main character is influenced and destroyed by something he creates himself, while in The Picture of Dorian Grey, the main character is influenced and destroyed by his friend and mentor.Again, both novels portray the human spirit’s motivation and vulnerability.
Picure Of Dorian Grey Essay Research Paper
In London, England, the well-known artist Basil Hallward becomes obsessed with the beauty of a wealthy young gentleman, Dorian Gray. He paints Dorian’s portrait, and introduces him to Lord Henry Wotton, a clever nobleman who enjoys embracing the sensibilities of his friends by advocating selfishness, praising youth and beauty, and celebrating the pursuit of pleasure.
Shooting An Elephant Essay Research Paper Human
?Shooting An Elephant? Essay, Research Paper Human Nature In “Shooting an Elephant” , human nature is the same as it would be in just about any story that we would read or hear. Human nature is no different in Burma than anywhere else in the world. In this story we see different degrees of human nature, from completely normal to in some cases extreme.
Battle Of The Ants And Shooting An
Elephant Essay, Research Paper Imperialistic View In both “The Battle of the Ants” by Thoreau and “Shooting an Elephant” by Orwell, imperialism plays a role. Both authors present, to some degree, their perspectives and feelings about imperialism. Orwell and Thoreau both present imperialism metaphorically through the use of animals and insects.
Shooting An Elephant Essay Research Paper In
Shooting An Elephant Essay, Research Paper In the essay “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, the author uses metaphors to represent his feelings on imperialism, the internal conflict between his personal morals, and his duty to his country. Orwell demonstrates his perspectives and feelings about imperialism.and its effects on his duty to the white man’s reputation.
Shooting An Elephant Essay Research Paper Shooting
Shooting An Elephant Essay, Research Paper Shooting an Elephant, by George Orwell is a story how a young Orwell, while stationed in Colonial Burma, became disillusioned with Imperialism. On one occasion he was faced with the dilemma of having to destroy a wild elephant that had gotten loose in the town he was stationed in.
Ganesha
– The Elephant God Of Hinduism Essay, Research Paper Ganesha is one of the five major Hindu deities. He is the Elephant god, one of the most recognized symbols of Hinduism. He has the head of an elephant, the body of a pot-bellied man, and 4 human arms. Ganesha is the Lord of Success, and the destroyer of evil and obstacles.
A Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar
Wilde Essay, Research Paper Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, makes Basil’s life change drastically by having him paint a portrait of Dorian Gray and express too much of himself in it, which, in Wilde’s mind, is a troublesome obstacle to circumvent. Wilde believes that the artist should not portray any of himself in his work, so when Basil does this, it is he who creates his own downfall, not Dorian.
The Picture Of Dorian Grey Essay Research
Paper The Picture of Dorian Grey This story is about wanting to stay young and not knowing the consequences of such a desire. Everything starts out in Basil Hallward’s studio. Basil is a painter that is obsessed with Dorian Grey, a young beautiful gentleman that catches everyone’s eye. On this particular day, Basil is accompanied by Lord Henry, one of his close friends.
Dorian Grey Review Essay Research Paper In
Dorian Grey Review Essay, Research Paper In the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey homosexuality is an important aspect of the novel, and the book deserves credit as a pioneering depection of homosexual relationships in serious English fiction. The depection
The Three Faces Of Oscar Wilde Essay
, Research Paper In the book, The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, there is a character named Lord Henry Wotton. He is the story s antagonist and whom critics often think most resembles Oscar Wilde. Wilde remarks Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks of me: Dorian what I would like to be-in other ages perhaps.
The Picture Of Dorian Gray Evil Essay
, Research Paper The Picture of Dorian Gray: Evil The Picture Of Dorian Gray is yet another novel portraying evil. The theme is very much reflected by the book’s setting, plot structure and
The Picture Of Dorian Essay Research Paper
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is the story of moral corruption by the means of aestheticism. In the novel, the well meaning artist Basil Hallward presets young Dorian
A Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay Research
Paper Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, makes Basil’s lifechangedrastically by having him paint a portrait of Dorian Gray and expresstoo much of himselfin it, which, in Wilde’s mind, is a troublesome obstacle to circumvent. Wilde believesthat the artist should not portray any of himself in his work, so whenBasil does this, it ishe who creates his own downfall, not Dorian.
Dorian Gray And The Lady Of Shallot
: Stepping Out Of The Shadows Essay, Research Paper During one?s life, one must step out into the real world and experience all of what the world has to offer. In order to attain a well-balanced life both mentally and socially, one may seek any way possible to live life to the fullest. We were put on this earth to live- not just simply by breathing in and out everyday, and making life the best it can possibly be.
Dorian Gray Essay Research Paper Throughout time
Dorian Gray Essay, Research Paper Throughout time, art has been cherished as a gateway to provoking thought from a hemisphere of the brain most people would otherwise rarely use. A person who has strength in both logic and creativity has always been praised as an enriched mind. Understanding art can bring about emotions and thoughts that can be both positive and harmful.
The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay Research
Paper Dorian Gray and The Narcissus The myth of Narcissus is a good illustration of the damage that total self ? love can do to a person. There is a misconception about narcissistic people. This confusion is the belief that narcissistic people are in love with themselves, but according to the DSM ? lll criteria published in 1989, the narcissus is not in love with himself, but in fact in love with his reflection.
An Analysis Of Orwell
’s “Shooting An Elephant” Essay, Research Paper An Analysis of Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” Erika Moreno-Dalton In ?Shooting an Elephant,? George Orwell finds himself in a difficult situation