The Portrait Of Dorian Grey | Analysis

The Portrait Of Dorian Grey | Analysis Dorian is soon to recognize of his deviance from social norms and decides to indulge himself in everlasting pleasure. Eternal youth, infinite passion, pleasures subtle or secret, wild joys and wilder sins he was to have all these things (Wilde, page 106). Seeing as age will not have any toll on his appearance, Dorian is able to pamper himself with pleasures of the flesh perpetually. As Dorian Grays soul grows ugly, the world will never view him as ugly because his portrait will not allow it; hence the addition this creates to Dorian Grays Hedonism. Awareness/Soul It held the secret of his life, and told his story (Wilde, page 92). Dorian, now in addition to Basil, both claim that the portrait of Dorian Gray is a portal and reflection of both of their souls, and because of this they wish upon no one to have any sort of viewing access to the picture. The mistake Dorian makes with Sibyl is the first sign of the ugliness of his soul; the lad cannot bare to lay eyes on the portrait for it will judge him as a person and he just does not want to view that much of reality. The picture, changed or unchanged, would be to him the visible emblem of conscience (Wilde, page 92). Dorian allows his portrait to act as his conscience; in view of the fact that it tells him if his soul if good or bad, looking at this piece of art works as constant reminder of the should bring goodness and not evil. The decision of returning to his love Sibyl Vane would probably not be made without the paintings reminder of his wrongdoing. He was hasty to do the right thing and return to Sibyl the proposal of marriage regardless of the pain she has brought upon him; he had no tolerance for the thought of his soul decaying with ugliness. In Dorians attempt at goodness, he had failed; Sibyls death brought death upon possible marriage between the two, and if Dorian played on his wisdom, he would realize the portrait realized this before he did. Despite the tragedy of this death, Dorian took this as a blessed opportunity to explore and unleash his youth and beauty that he has been privileged to. The lad grasps the fact that he can please his wants and remain beautiful regardless; the corruption of his soul has a direct correlation to the ignorance of his conscience. Dorians realization of the fact that old age will affect everyone except him, as well as the reality that the suffering of his soul will not be apparent in his outer appearance rewards him with a sense of blissful delight. Beauty There is a direct correlation of character and beauty when the two are intertwined to show the changes in the picture; The quivering, ardent sunlight showed him the lines of cruelty round the mouth as clearly as if he had been looking into a mirror after he had done some dreadful thing (Wilde, page 91), we see that cruelty and diminishing beauty have been a result of Dorians careless actions. Dorians character and actions are shown in the face of the portrait, hence Wildes reference to the portrait as a mirror. This portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors. As it had revealed to him his own body, so it would reveal to him his own soul (Wilde, pg. 107). The driving force behind Dorians want to be good is merely the conserve of his beauty. A feeling of pain crept over him as he thought of the desecration that was in store for the fair face on the canvas (Wilde, page 106). Dorian Gray is very cautious with his choice of words; he never stated that he did not want his soul to corrupt, rather be is more concerned with his looks so he states he does not want to be hideous. The biggest fright imposed on this character is that he is terrified that people will soon see his evil. Applicable Connections Taking an inside look at Freuds psychoanalytic theories containing the id, ego and superego, allow us as the reader to better understand and interpret the protagonists three elements of the psyche. Superego (Conscience) According to Freud, the superego is guided by the sense of right and wrong; failure to accordingly directly results in a feeling of remorse or guilt. The superego acts like a communication device to the conscious part of ones mind, sharing its intentions with the ego. Dorian Grays conscience served as a reminder that from a moral standpoint, his living was bad. Wilde creates an emphasis on bad living and how it correlates negatively with the physical appearance of ones face. It is apparent that Dorian shows constant disregard to the indicators of his conscience. By choosing to ignore them, Dorian Gray flips Freuds concept of the superego by a full 180 degrees. Mr. Grays conscience is indeed present and well, but its customary impulses in relation to the conscious mind have been transmitted to the portrait that Bail painted. This is exactly what permits Dorian to plunge into his corrupt immorality. Id (Unconscious) Although the id acts behinds the scenes of the conscious mind, the influence it carries is just as great. This is the part of the human psyche that stores ones desires and acts on the pleasure seeking principle. The sense of his own beauty came to him like a revelation. He had never felt it before (Wilde, page 27). Dorian Gray recognizes his beauty but it was only through the compliments and flattery of Basil Hallward that he was able to do so. His narcissism led him to the master-puppet relationship with Lord Henry. This hunt for pleasure would never have existed without Lord Henry who is the controlled of Dorian Grays strings. The portrait of Dorian Gray itself takes on all the sins of the protagonist, leaving no reason for him to regard his conscience and therefore resulting in no need for the repression of the unconscious. The pleasure seeking urge is left freely for Dorian to spoil his hedonistic self with. Ego (Consciousness) The ego loves to be in the spotlight of both the superego and the id seeing as the two are constantly fighting which intuition should be followed by the ego. The ego is also considered to be an innate knowledge of the state of ones soul. It is evident that Dorians conscious plays a larger than normal role on his mind. It is because of Basils portrait of Dorian that the young lad is able to act upon each and every single notion that travels through his mind. What the worm was to the corpse his sins would be to the painted image on the canvas. They mar its beauty, and eat away its grace. They would defile it, and make it shameful (138). The existence of this portrait calls for no need of a filter when gazing at his soul and eavesdropping on his unconscious. There is no longer a duty of ignorance by Dorians consciousness in terms of his hedonistic id. The only communication Dorians conscience has with his soul is through the painting therefore this does not phase him. The combat between the superego and id over the ego is not presence when it comes to Dorian. Not only is Dorian mindful of the shady and dusty corners of his soul, as well as all parts of his psyche, he seems to also find ecstasy in it all. The need of the consciousness to communicate with the conscience is no longer essential since his painting does so for him; all that is left for him to do is absorb it as another perk of his life. Due to the fact that the relation between the conscience, the unconscious, and the consciousness is lead astray, Dorian is given all the more reason to treat his soul in the same way as Lord Henry regards him, a manipulative study.

Goldings View of Man and War Exposed in Lord of the Flies :: Lord Flies Essays

Golding's View of Man and War Exposed in Lord of the Flies "...Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart" (Golding 223). An author's view of human behavior is often reflected in their writing. The novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding is an example of a literary work that demonstrates the author's view of man, as well his opinion of war. Golding's Lord of the Flies is highly demonstrative of Golding's opinion that society is a thin and fragile veil that when removed shows man for what he truly is, a savage animal. Perhaps the best demonstration of this given by Golding is Jack's progression to the killing of the sow. Upon first landing on the island Jack, Ralph, and Simon go to survey their new home. Along the way the boys have their first encounter with the island's pigs. They see a piglet caught in some of the plants. Quickly Jack draws his knife so as to kill the piglet. Instead of completing the act, however, Jack hesitates. Golding states that, "The pause was only long enough for them to realize the enormity of what the downward stroke would be" (Golding page #). Golding is suggesting that the societal taboos placed on killing are still ingrained within Jack. The next significant encounter in Jack's progression is his first killing of a pig. There is a description of a great celebration. The boys chant "Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood" (Golding page #). It is clear from Golding's description of the revelry that followed the killing that the act of the hunt provided the boys with more than food. The action of killing another living thing gives them pleasure. The last stage in Jack's metamorphosis is demonstrated by the murder of the sow. Golding describes the killing almost as a rape. He says, "Jack was on top of the sow, stabbing downward wherever pig flesh appeared ... Jack found the throat, and the hot blood spouted over his hands. The sow collapsed under them and they were heavy and fulfilled upon her" (Golding page #). In this case it is certain that the boys display animal savagery. Because they have been away from organized society for such a long time, the boys of the island have become Golding's view of mankind, vile, destructive beasts.

Morals & Ethics in Cartoons

The Comic that I recall was Hank Ketchum’s Dennis the Menace strip in a newspaper. Although I could not find it to reprint, the memory stays with me perfectly. Alice, Dennis’ mother was folding laundry when Dennis cries out from the kitchen â€Å"Mom! Does the peanut butter go on the bread before or after you put it in the toaster? † The next window shows Alice looking a bit troubled as Dennis cries out again. â€Å"Never mind† he yellsThe laundry gets tossed into the air and Alice makes the turn to go into the kitchen but Dennis calls out again. â€Å"Don’t come in here. † Dennis needs help but doesn’t want to ask. The moral dilemma here is that if he calls his mom to help, then he faces getting into trouble. If she stays out, he might be able to rectify the situation. Although he tried to do something for himself he ended up screwing it up as usual. The mistake is obvious but the problem is subtle.We don’t really know what is happening in the kitchen but it puts our mind to work. Maybe he dropped the peanut butter covered bread on the floor and wants time to clean it up. Maybe he is trying to make his mom a surprise sandwich and doesn’t want her to help or to see. For whatever the purpose, the reader is drawn into the many possibilities of mistakes this young character is capable of. Conclusion The lesson in the end is that he should have asked for help before getting himself into this situation.I think young readers can see this as well in that they can relate to Dennis because they have been in similar learning experiences. Is this an accurate portrayal of modern life? Unequivocally yes! The amount of troubles my own kids have gotten into and the stories about my nieces and nephews can be inspiration for Hank Ketchum. Seldom is this writer’s work ever over the top. His creativity is aligned with reality which makes the strip even more humorous by drawing us in to a relationship of believa bility.References Sally T. Alders, â€Å"Dennis The Menace†; The Kosmix Community

The Declaration Of Independence And The United States

Throughout the history of our country there are a handful of documents that have stood the test of time, however the documents that have remained relevant are ever more important today then when they were originally drafted. The U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptist Church are three documents that are still hold relevance in today’s societal discussions. These three documents hold truths, principals and ideologies that were and are crucial to the continuation and the development of the United States. The very ideas and tribulations that led to the development of the United States are expressed loudly in these three documents. While these documents are vastly different in content, they do all hold the same basic principals that create the framework of the United States. While the three documents all have some basic ideological similarities the three differ on the main issues they are addressing. The Declaration of independence was written in response to a Tyrant and it stressed equality for all people and that everyone has basic human rights. The Constitution is the backbone for the United States Government and set up how the country would work. The Constitution emphasizes that people should be the source of all government power and that power in the government should be spread out. jefferson’s letters to Danbury Baptist addresses the issue of a state organized religion and the wall between church and state.Show MoreRelatedThe Declaration Of Independence By The United States1106 Words   |  5 PagesThe setting of the Declaration of Independence was the United States. It was declared on July 4, 1776. After the Boston tea party rebellion the United states wanted their independence. One will describe why the declaration of independence was wr itten. What lead to the cause for writing such a document. The leaders who wrote the declaration. And what the colony was going through for it to lead to the circumstances. One will look at how England was treating the colonies that made them want to be theirRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The United States897 Words   |  4 Pages The Declaration of Independence stated the United States should be established as a country, free from British control, the U.S. Constitution is a set of rules for that nation to follow, and Mark Twain’s As Regards Patriotism examines how these two documents affect the mindset of this country. Groupthink, not a word use in 1900, when Twain penned his essay, but it is a good analogy of what he was discussing. Psychology Today says, â€Å"Groupthink occurs when a group values harmony and coherenceRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : The United States1552 Words   |  7 Pageshappiness. This however was not always the case for the United States. 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That is to say, the barometer of the wellness and health of a person should include both his biological and psychological/behavioralRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The United States1844 Words   |  8 Pages The Declaration of Independence is the statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer under British rule. Instead they formed a new nation—the United States of America. John A dams was a leader in pushing for independence, which was unanimously approved on July 2. A committeeRead MoreThe United States And The Declaration Of Independence Essay1150 Words   |  5 PagesTo continue Jefferson shows these same qualities of independence in the declaration of independence. He wanted the United States to have the freedom to govern itself. According to the author, â€Å"I set out on this ground which I suppose to be self-evident, that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living... We seem not to perceive that, by the law of nature, one generation is to another as one independent nation is to another†¦ The earth belongs always to the living generations,† (Jefferson 5). WhatRead MoreThe United States Declaration Of Independence1802 Words   |  8 PagesVirginia Convention instructs its Continental Congress delegation to propose a resolution of independence from Great Britain, paving the way for the United States Declaration of Independence. Also, in 1793 Diego Marà ­n Aguilera flies a glider for about 360 meters, at a height of 5–6 meters, during one of the first attempted manned flights. And in 1817 the first private mental health hospital in the United States, the Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason (now Friends Hospital) The Declaration Of Independence And The United States The Declaration of Independence is the most imperative and most seasoned report in the United State History. The Declaration was drafted and marked to report our Declaration Of Independence from Great Britain, by saying, â€Å" The United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. (Thomas Jefferson July 4, 1776)† The settlements have†¦show more content†¦However, in the event that the United State Colonies were at that point overseen without anyone else for such a variety of years before the marking of the affirmation, and it was being dealt with so ineffective ly from the British Crown. At that point the marking of the revelation in 1776, for freedom, truth, equity, and uniformity, is in the rights to speak to themselves and that they will battle for their opportunity against a narcissistic ruler, whom had treated them so ineffectively and uncalled for. Accordingly towards the Declaration (in the mid year of 1776) from Great Britain s ruler, King George III, recognizes the progressing strife with the United States, for it was-not going admirably for England. As he expressed in deliver to the pioneers, a greater amount of reaction towards the marking of the Declaration of Independence and progressive pioneers, saying, for brave and urgent is the soul of those pioneers, whose question has dependably been territory and power, that they have now transparently revoked all dependability to the crown, and all political association with this nation. As he would proceed to go and advise Parliament of the fruitful British Victory at Battle of Long Island. From the start of the war, Thomas Jefferson nominated Washington as a general because of his experiences in the French and Indian War. Even though with the loose of Battle of Long Island, Washington would triumph a paradeShow MoreRelatedThe Declaration Of Independence By The United States1106 Words   |  5 PagesThe setting of the Declaration of Independence was the United States. It was declared on July 4, 1776. After the Boston tea party rebellion the United states wanted their independence. 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According to the author, â€Å"I set out on this ground which I suppose to be self-evident, that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living... We seem not to perceive that, by the law of nature, one generation is to another as one independent nation is to another†¦ The earth belongs always to the living generations,† (Jefferson 5). WhatRead MoreThe United States Declaration Of Independence1802 Words   |  8 PagesVirginia Convention instructs its Continental Congress delegation to propose a resolution of independence from Great Britain, paving the way for the United States Declaration of Independence. Also, in 1793 Diego Marà ­n Aguilera flies a glider for about 360 meters, at a height of 5–6 meters, during one of the first attempted manned flights. And in 1817 the first private mental health hospital in the United States, the Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason (now Friends Hospital)