Chapter 1-4
Chapter 1
“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” - Lord Henry
This is a quote stated by Lord Henry, in a conversation with Basil according the portrait of Dorian Gray. Basil is decided not to send the picture anywhere, bur Lord Henry beg the difference. He means that a gained reputation should be retained and not wasted. Even though gossip and rumors can jeopardies ones reputation, not being talked about is worse. This is a common used quote in the PR-management. On order to retain a celebrity’s reputation, the person of interest must be seen and talked about in media.
Chapter 1
“Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is faithless who know love´s tragedies.” – Lord Henry
This I quoted by Lord Henry, in another conversation with Basil. Basil claims that Lord Henry is incapable of feeling what he feels, thought the change too often. Henry then states: “That is exactly why I can feel. Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is faithless who know love´s tragedies.” An interpretation is that the topic of the quote is infidelity. I believe Lord Henry refers to a different kind of faithfulness. He might mean that in a relationship where everything is faithful, safe and nothing ever dangers it, the love is insignificant. On the other hand a relationship exposed for ups, downs and faithlessness, the love between partners is superior, so is the risk of wound. In order to know great love, ones must know great suffering. I choose this quote because I can relate to it. My best friend in life is probably the one person I argue, fight and piqued the most; however the love between us is indescribable. “Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is faithless who know love´s tragedies
chapter 4
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – Lord Henry
I choose this quote because it demonstrates the Oscar Wilds romanticism thinking. In the renaissance everything was about logic, and reason. In the Romanticism the thinking went from the brain to the heart. This quote could compare to; Renaissance people know the price of everything, the value was decided upon what I cost to produce or purchase. Romantic men cared more about one´s feelings toward the subject, and it cultural- , ethical or personal-value. Oscar Wild criticizes the renaissance thinking and introduces the romanticism thinking with this quote.
Ebba Wadstein
“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” - Lord Henry
This is a quote stated by Lord Henry, in a conversation with Basil according the portrait of Dorian Gray. Basil is decided not to send the picture anywhere, bur Lord Henry beg the difference. He means that a gained reputation should be retained and not wasted. Even though gossip and rumors can jeopardies ones reputation, not being talked about is worse. This is a common used quote in the PR-management. On order to retain a celebrity’s reputation, the person of interest must be seen and talked about in media.
Chapter 1
“Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is faithless who know love´s tragedies.” – Lord Henry
This I quoted by Lord Henry, in another conversation with Basil. Basil claims that Lord Henry is incapable of feeling what he feels, thought the change too often. Henry then states: “That is exactly why I can feel. Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is faithless who know love´s tragedies.” An interpretation is that the topic of the quote is infidelity. I believe Lord Henry refers to a different kind of faithfulness. He might mean that in a relationship where everything is faithful, safe and nothing ever dangers it, the love is insignificant. On the other hand a relationship exposed for ups, downs and faithlessness, the love between partners is superior, so is the risk of wound. In order to know great love, ones must know great suffering. I choose this quote because I can relate to it. My best friend in life is probably the one person I argue, fight and piqued the most; however the love between us is indescribable. “Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is faithless who know love´s tragedies
chapter 4
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – Lord Henry
I choose this quote because it demonstrates the Oscar Wilds romanticism thinking. In the renaissance everything was about logic, and reason. In the Romanticism the thinking went from the brain to the heart. This quote could compare to; Renaissance people know the price of everything, the value was decided upon what I cost to produce or purchase. Romantic men cared more about one´s feelings toward the subject, and it cultural- , ethical or personal-value. Oscar Wild criticizes the renaissance thinking and introduces the romanticism thinking with this quote.
Ebba Wadstein
Chapter 5 - 8
Page 50 – “The girl looked up and pouted“money, mother?” she cried, “what does money matter, love is more than money.” – Sibyl Vane
It is a very honest way of thinking in life, but it struck me that many people today believe money is more important than love, or at least so it seems. I liked the fact that she questioned her mother and that she straight up thought money had no worth compared to love. But if love is worth more than money, how come money rules the world and not love? If love is more than money, and money is so mighty, how come love for example is not allowed to be shared between the same sexes?
Page 65 – “They create love in our natures; they have a right to demand it back.” – Dorian Gray
Dorian seems to have a very healthy view on women and how they should be treated unlike Henry Wotton. I believe people forget that love is often a two way street, and is not felt alone by one person (if you aren’t unlucky). I first interpreted this quote and visualized it like a garden. Women are often the gardeners; therefore they should have the equal, if not more of a right to enjoy it.
Page 69 – “there are only to kinds of people that are really fascinating – People who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.” – Henry Wotton
I have chosen to take this qoute literally and I certainly don’t agree with Henry Wotton. And it frustrates me that he divides people in to two categories that easily. I find almost everyone fascinating, because no one is the similar to anyone else. Getting to know people is one of the most enjoyable things you could do according to me. You never stop learning about a person, and a person that knows nothing/everything – how fascinating can that person be? But as I mentioned earlier, this could might as well be a methafor.
Page 69 – “The secret of remaining young is to never have an emotion that is unbecoming.” – Henry Wotton
We talked last week about one of themes that Oscar Wilde mentions in his book, namely youth. I picked this quote because believe it is very true. You grow up when you stop acting young; when you stop making foolish mistakes and learn from them. I think this quote means that you only stay young, if you stay young at heart.
By Katinka Johansson
It is a very honest way of thinking in life, but it struck me that many people today believe money is more important than love, or at least so it seems. I liked the fact that she questioned her mother and that she straight up thought money had no worth compared to love. But if love is worth more than money, how come money rules the world and not love? If love is more than money, and money is so mighty, how come love for example is not allowed to be shared between the same sexes?
Page 65 – “They create love in our natures; they have a right to demand it back.” – Dorian Gray
Dorian seems to have a very healthy view on women and how they should be treated unlike Henry Wotton. I believe people forget that love is often a two way street, and is not felt alone by one person (if you aren’t unlucky). I first interpreted this quote and visualized it like a garden. Women are often the gardeners; therefore they should have the equal, if not more of a right to enjoy it.
Page 69 – “there are only to kinds of people that are really fascinating – People who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.” – Henry Wotton
I have chosen to take this qoute literally and I certainly don’t agree with Henry Wotton. And it frustrates me that he divides people in to two categories that easily. I find almost everyone fascinating, because no one is the similar to anyone else. Getting to know people is one of the most enjoyable things you could do according to me. You never stop learning about a person, and a person that knows nothing/everything – how fascinating can that person be? But as I mentioned earlier, this could might as well be a methafor.
Page 69 – “The secret of remaining young is to never have an emotion that is unbecoming.” – Henry Wotton
We talked last week about one of themes that Oscar Wilde mentions in his book, namely youth. I picked this quote because believe it is very true. You grow up when you stop acting young; when you stop making foolish mistakes and learn from them. I think this quote means that you only stay young, if you stay young at heart.
By Katinka Johansson
Chapter 13-20
Chapter 14
When Dorian Gray impulsively, and seemingly without cause, murdered the painter and friend Basil Hallward, no guilt seemed to settle upon his conscience, merely indifference. The effect that this absence had on the connection between him and the reader was devastating, since the former sympathy transformed into abhorrence in a heartbeat. It is not until the following quote appears in the text that one can detect an element of remorse:
“As soon as he was alone, he lit a cigarette, and began sketching upon a piece of paper, drawing first flowers, and bits of architecture, and then human faces. Suddenly he remarked that every face that he drew seemed to have a fantastic likeness to Basil Hallward.”
Thus this quote presents the first indication that Dorian Gray does suffer qualms of conscience, suggesting that he is indeed human and not purely a faceless monster. Even though he himself refuses to recognize the corruptness in his actions, somewhere in the back of his mind he senses that this murder is morally reprehensible. Hence this simple observation about “likeness to Basil Hallward” develops into a first attempt of reconstructing the bond between character and reader.
Chapter 18
“The consciousness of being haunted, snared, tracked down, had begun to dominate him. If the tapestry did but tremble in the wind, he shook. /…/ 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! As the thought crept through his brain, he grew pale with terror, and the air seemed to him to have become suddenly colder. Oh! in what wild hour of madness he had killed his friend!”
At this point in the plot Dorian Gray starts to realize the depth of his crimes. How he will not be able to escape them, since they will hunt his conscience forevermore. However, this quote does not portray regret in its purest form, but rather the self-centered side of repentance. On one hand because Dorian Gray does not recognize the horrific reality of his actions until he himself suffers from them; assigning himself the role of a victim, when the true victim – the one he murdered – is Basil Hallward. On the other hand for the reason that he longs for reconciliation, all the while denying the fact that there is no forgiveness for what he did. Instead of accepting this grim reality and amend his lifestyle accordingly, he drowns himself in self-pity. For all these reasons, this quote is an important piece to consider when completing the puzzle of the complex character Dorian Gray.
Chapter 19
“’Ah, Dorian, how happy you are! What an exquisite life you have had! You have drunk deeply of everything. You have crushed the grapes against your palate. Nothing has been hidden from you. And it has all been to you no more than the sound of music. It has not marred you. You are still the same.’
‘I am not the same, Harry’
‘Yes: you are the same. You are quite flawless now. You need not shake your head: you know you are.’”
This extract from a conversation between Dorian Gray and Lord Henry indicates how terribly lonely Dorian’s life must be! The secrets he has to live with must be tearing him apart from the inside out, and yet, even his closest friend does not have any clue of the ghastly dreadfulness that is concealed underneath Dorian’s youthful façade. In all probability this tragic reality has a great impact on Dorian’s way of life, since loneliness sometimes creates indifference towards life itself. This theory is furthermore indicated by Oscar Wilde’s portrayal of Dorian Gray in chapter eighteen: “sick with a wild terror of dying, and yet indifferent to life itself”. Thus this solitude embody a key aspect as to why Dorian lives his life the way he does; with no regard for ethics and morals whatsoever. As a result this quote enhances our understanding for Dorian’s inner struggles; mitigating our attitude towards his undesirable traits of character.
Cecilia Wickman
When Dorian Gray impulsively, and seemingly without cause, murdered the painter and friend Basil Hallward, no guilt seemed to settle upon his conscience, merely indifference. The effect that this absence had on the connection between him and the reader was devastating, since the former sympathy transformed into abhorrence in a heartbeat. It is not until the following quote appears in the text that one can detect an element of remorse:
“As soon as he was alone, he lit a cigarette, and began sketching upon a piece of paper, drawing first flowers, and bits of architecture, and then human faces. Suddenly he remarked that every face that he drew seemed to have a fantastic likeness to Basil Hallward.”
Thus this quote presents the first indication that Dorian Gray does suffer qualms of conscience, suggesting that he is indeed human and not purely a faceless monster. Even though he himself refuses to recognize the corruptness in his actions, somewhere in the back of his mind he senses that this murder is morally reprehensible. Hence this simple observation about “likeness to Basil Hallward” develops into a first attempt of reconstructing the bond between character and reader.
Chapter 18
“The consciousness of being haunted, snared, tracked down, had begun to dominate him. If the tapestry did but tremble in the wind, he shook. /…/ 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! As the thought crept through his brain, he grew pale with terror, and the air seemed to him to have become suddenly colder. Oh! in what wild hour of madness he had killed his friend!”
At this point in the plot Dorian Gray starts to realize the depth of his crimes. How he will not be able to escape them, since they will hunt his conscience forevermore. However, this quote does not portray regret in its purest form, but rather the self-centered side of repentance. On one hand because Dorian Gray does not recognize the horrific reality of his actions until he himself suffers from them; assigning himself the role of a victim, when the true victim – the one he murdered – is Basil Hallward. On the other hand for the reason that he longs for reconciliation, all the while denying the fact that there is no forgiveness for what he did. Instead of accepting this grim reality and amend his lifestyle accordingly, he drowns himself in self-pity. For all these reasons, this quote is an important piece to consider when completing the puzzle of the complex character Dorian Gray.
Chapter 19
“’Ah, Dorian, how happy you are! What an exquisite life you have had! You have drunk deeply of everything. You have crushed the grapes against your palate. Nothing has been hidden from you. And it has all been to you no more than the sound of music. It has not marred you. You are still the same.’
‘I am not the same, Harry’
‘Yes: you are the same. You are quite flawless now. You need not shake your head: you know you are.’”
This extract from a conversation between Dorian Gray and Lord Henry indicates how terribly lonely Dorian’s life must be! The secrets he has to live with must be tearing him apart from the inside out, and yet, even his closest friend does not have any clue of the ghastly dreadfulness that is concealed underneath Dorian’s youthful façade. In all probability this tragic reality has a great impact on Dorian’s way of life, since loneliness sometimes creates indifference towards life itself. This theory is furthermore indicated by Oscar Wilde’s portrayal of Dorian Gray in chapter eighteen: “sick with a wild terror of dying, and yet indifferent to life itself”. Thus this solitude embody a key aspect as to why Dorian lives his life the way he does; with no regard for ethics and morals whatsoever. As a result this quote enhances our understanding for Dorian’s inner struggles; mitigating our attitude towards his undesirable traits of character.
Cecilia Wickman