The Picture of Dorian Gray #5

1.) “Love is a more wonderful thing than Art” (88).

Love is a series of emotions. Art is not an emotion; it can only express emotions. Art can be fake or it can hide the truth. Love is more important because it is genuine and real, and the real thing is always worth more. There is no need for Dorian to give up his love for Sybil just because she is a poor untalented actress. Art does not define Sybil and affection does not define love. Sybil can pretend to show her emotions through acting, but unless they are real, they do not mean anything. We know what rain looks like, but if we are not outside, we cannot feel it. Sybil acted like she knew what love looked like, but without Dorian she could not feel loved. Dorian brought Sybil something no one else has; he “brought [her] something higher, something of which all art is but a reflection. [He] made [her] understand what love really is” (90).

2.) “The picture, changed or unchanged, would be to him the visible emblem of conscience” (96).

Dorian’s wish came true. He would remain beautiful forever while, “the face on the canvas bear the burden of his passions and his sins” (95). In most cases, inner beauty goes unnoticed, because no one can see it. Most people do not take the time to look for it; however, if you look deeply you can find it. If you look behind the lines in the picture you can see Dorian’s true identity. The picture is a reminder that the decisions we make have the same effect on us physically as they do emotionally. Despite his unchanging looks on the outside, if the picture is ugly or different, Dorian has changed on the inside. This shows beauty is only skin deep; our conscience is more important. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the adjustments on the picture are enough words to describe Dorian’s life story. If your actions altered the way you looked, people would think twice before making a bad decision.

Vocab. Words:

1.)Elocution: the study and practice of oral delivery, including the control of both voice and gesture
“A school-girl who has been taught to recite by some second-rate professor of elocution” (88).

2.)Discordant: disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.
“Some women were laughing in the pit; their voices were horribly shrill and discordant” (85).