Chapter 14

ANALYTICAL THESIS STATEMENT

themes:

Duality of Human Nature
Internal VS External
Separation of Him and Portrait (mentally and physically)
Moral Corruption
Rebel Victorian Beliefs for Corrupted Desires

In Chapter 14, Wilde delves into the disturbing, corrupted side of human nature and introduces the contrasting duality within through the abundant use of juxtaposition, and connotation.

QUOTES

"The man had to touch him twice on the shoulder before he woke, and as he opened his eyes a faint smile passed across his lips, as though he has been lost in some delightful dream."

THEMES:

Duality of Human Nature
Internal VS External

"...and as he opened his eyes a faint smile passed across his lips, as though he had been lost in some delightful dream." This part of the quote uncovers an eerie contrast between Dorian's inner state and his actions. The faint smile on his lips suggests a sense of pleasure or satisfaction, almost as if he had experienced something pleasurable during his sleep. This reaction is unsettling, as it highlights a sense of detachment from morality and a disturbing lack of remorse for his actions. The juxtaposition of the peaceful smile with the horrific act of murder showcases the dark nature of Dorian's character. It accelerates his increasing moral corruption, as he finds pleasure even in the aftermath of his violent actions. Furthermore, this quote serves to emphasize the contrast between Dorian's external appearance and his internal corruption. On the surface, he may still maintain his youth and physical beauty, masking the darkness within him. The dreamy quality of his smile suggests that he may be deluding himself, creating a distorted reality where he can escape guilt and accountability for his actions.

"Basil had been with him part of the time and had gone wild over Tintoret. Poor Basil! what a horrible way for a man to die."

THEMES:

Duality of Human Nature
Separation of Him and Portrait

Dorian expresses a sense of pity and nostalgia as he replays memories of him and Basil in his head. His usage of a third-person perspective for the situation he caused, suggests that he almost does not acknowledge that it is he, himself, who committed the murder, due to his duality it is almost the portrait that does it. This showcase of his mindset encapsulates his moral corruption and his belief that not only is there an external separation between him and the portrait, but internally they are also separated in the sense that he keeps his youth and innocence while the portrait takes his soul and bears the aftermaths of his immoral acts. Linking to the idea that the painted portrait of him is the physical separation of him and his sins.

"What you have got to do is to destroy the thing that is upstairs- to destroy it so that, not a vestige of it will be left."

THEMES:

Moral Corruption
Rebel Victorian Beliefs for Corrupted Desires

Dorian depicts the emotion of fury, and destructiveness towards Basil, even if it's just his dead body. Referring to "it" as a thing, implying that he can’t acknowledge "it" as a body. By using the word "destroy", which has a strong connotation. Dorian showcases a sense of intense hatred and murderous intentions, instead of feeling remorse and guilt after killing Basil. Taking this further, perhaps this reflects Dorian's corrupted desire to murder Basil once again after his physical death. Considering that by destroying the body in Victorian belief this means he also destroys Basil’s chance of going to heaven, furthermore Dorian denies him a proper burial. As a whole, this quote undoubtedly reflects Dorian's heavily distorted morality. Additionally, it uncovers how quickly Dorian can switch sides and go completely against someone once so dear to him just being driven by his hedonistic nature.

Basil Hallward

CREATIVE RESPONSE

creative response.mp4

Response Stop-motion Film

Dorian Gray

THEMES:

Hedonism
Gothic Horror
Mortality & Life's Purpose

Hedonism: The use of claymation, combined with eerie background music with contrast, can create a surreal and unsettling atmosphere that intensifies the hedonistic elements of the scene. The visual and musical elements can emphasize Dorian Gray's pleasure-seeking corrupted nature, showcasing the extent to which he is willing to go to protect his pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence. In this case, refers to killing Basil whom he feels a huge sense of hatred towards.

Gothicism: The eerie background music and the claymation medium can contribute to the Gothic atmosphere of the scene. The screeching music and the stylized, uncanny movements of the clay figures can accentuate the dark and macabre aspects of Dorian's actions. The visual and auditory elements can heighten the sense of mystery, dread, and moral decay that are central to the Gothic genre.

Mortality & Life's Purpose(s): The combination of claymation and eerie background music can evoke feelings of unease and contemplation of mortality and life's purpose. It emphasizes the transient nature of life and the consequences of Dorian's choices. The eerie music can serve as a reminder of the fragility and impermanence of existence, prompting viewers to reflect on the deeper existential questions raised by the story.

CONTEMPORARY WORLD CONNECTIONS

PSYCHO (1960)

Both "Psycho" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" examine the theme of identity and the masks people wear. In "Psycho," Norman Bates adopts different personas, while Dorian Gray hides his true self behind a facade of eternal youth and beauty. Both works question the authenticity of appearances and the consequences of living a double life. Both works explore the consequences of immoral actions. In "Psycho," the characters suffer the consequences of their choices, leading to tragedy and psychological torment. Similarly, Dorian Gray in the novel faces the consequences of his hedonistic lifestyle and the corruption of his soul. Both works highlight the destructive power of immorality and the price one pays for indulging in it. This is also the key to why I chose the violin screech in Psycho as the sound effect for when Dorian stabs Basil. Subsequently, In Psycho, during every single murder/ stabbing scene, the same violin screech plays. By connecting these two works of literature, I can create a link to their themes of darker aspects of human nature, the exploration of identity and masks, and the examination of the consequences of immoral actions.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Dorian's mythical portrait has become a reality today with social media. After Dorian sees Basil's supernaturally beautiful portrait of him and realizes that his good looks will fade eventually, he feels a pang of jealousy and desperation. Eventually contributing to his untimely demise. Emphasizing how the threat of mortality can have an extreme effect on people. Moreover, showcasing a dangerous view of how investing too much in appearances leads to the corruption of one's personality. This creates a huge connection to our social media age where individuals often present an idealized version of themselves on Social Media making it the modern-day equivalent of Dorian's portrait, where people strive to maintain a flawless and youthful image. The constant pressure can evoke the same negative emotions experienced by Dorian. Taking this further, the obsession with external appearances in the virtual world can contribute to a distorted view of oneself and a shallow focus on superficial qualities. Just like Dorian, individuals may become consumed by the pursuit of perfection and the pleasure they get from external validations, losing track of the actual reality, and deforming their perspectives of what's wrong and what's right. Ultimately "recreating" another kind of tragic fatal downfall similar to Dorian Gray.

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