The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Chapter 4

“The same nervous staccato laugh broke from her lips” (49) Staccato- shortened and detached when played or sung 

“The subject is not so abstruse as I thought it was” (51).  Abstruse- hard to understand; recondite; esoteric 

“If one hears bad music, it is one’s duty to drown it in conversation.’ Ah!  That is one of Harry’s views, isn’t it Mr. Gray?  I always hear Harry’s views from his friends.  It is the only way I get to hear them’” (49).

In this quotation there are a few things that can be perceived.  The reader gets the sense that Lord Henry and his wife are not that close.  She says she never hears his views from him.  She always hears them from his friends.  Another thing is the continuous rubbing-off of Lord Henry on Dorian.  Lady Henry notices the comment as one Harry would make and that is an obvious sign of the influence that Harry has over Dorian.  His views are beginning to rub off on Dorian.  Another thing that is maybe overlooked in the quote is that fact that Lady Henry says she always hears Henry’s views from his friends.  That means that he is influencing a larger group than just Dorian.  He is obviously a very charming speaker and is very intellectual.  He must influence many using his talents.

“You could not have helped telling me, Dorian.  All through your life you will tell me everything you do.’  ‘Yes, Harry, I believe that is true.  I cannot help telling you things.  You have a curious influence over me.’” (56).

In this quotation we also see the affect that Henry is having over Dorian.  Dorian is obviously drawn to Lord Henry, but for what reason?  Lord Henry has a power over Dorian that is indescribable.  Dorian even says that he cannot help telling him everything and that Lord Henry has a “curious influence” over him.  A curious influence that Basil alluded to and a curious influence that Dorian, and others, has fallen under.  The other part to this quote is that Lord Henry knows that he has this power over Dorian.  He knows that Dorian cannot keep anything from him, and this is what his aim has been for some time.  He wanted to be the influence and Dorian’s life, and so far he has succeeded.  

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Homework 2

“Worlds had to be in travail, that the meanest flower might blow” (39).  Travail- pain, anguish or suffering resulting from mental or physical hardship 

“made it iridescent with fancy” (44).  Iridescent- displaying a play of lustrous colors like those of the rainbow 

“Yes, he would try to be to Dorian Gray what, without knowing it, the lad was to the painter […] He would seek to dominate him- he already, indeed, half done so.  He would make that wonderful spirit his own” (40).

In this quotation the reader sees the fear that Basil had of Lord Henry influencing Dorian come into play.  Basil was afraid that Lord Henry would influence Dorian, and he also said that no influence is good, even though we see that Dorian Gray is playing a major role in the influence on Basil’s paintings and life.  We now see that Lord Henry’s aim is to influence Dorian and to become the person that Dorian would want to be.  This is effective through the lunch they are both at.  Lord Henry speaks eloquently and charms everyone around him, including Dorian.  We see the influence come into play when Dorian is drawn to him and stares at him throughout his talking.  Another key action is Dorian wanting to follow Lord Henry and blow off Basil

“I can sympathize with everything, except suffering” (43)

This quote takes place at the lunch at Lady Agatha’s house.  Lord Henry speaks down upon Lady Agatha’s philanthropic ways.  She is very gracious and gives to those who are not as well off as others are.  He speaks about how the less one thinks about “life’s sores”, the better life will be.  It shocks the guests at the lunch party, but his charming speech still reaches those there.  He catches the attention of Dorian, who never stops staring at him and others at the lunch.  One guest also says that before they were embarrassed to look at Lady Agatha because they did not share the same view, but now they did no longer feel that way.  Lord Henry is a great speaker and a very influential person.  His influence will most likely play a major part in this book.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray: Homework 1

“Your cynicism is simply a pose” (7).  Cynicism- An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others 

“I remember her bringing me up to a truculent and red-faced old gentleman” (9)

Truculent- fierce; cruel; savagely brutal 

“The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.  They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.  If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.  They live as we all should live, undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet.  They neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it from alien hands” (6).

I found this quote to be very interesting.  If you are too stupid to know good things then you will never know bad things.  That is a very interesting way of looking at life.  If this is how I do not know why Basil would think this way.  The ugly and stupid are obviously far behind the rest of the world.  They are really looked down upon by the rest of society.  The only way this quotation seems to make sense is that the stupid are just too stupid to realize they are under par and continue to live their life at ease.  Everyone else is so concerned with what they do, and how they are perceived by others that they continuously stress themselves over little things in life.  

“There is no such thing as good influence, Mr. Gray.  All influence is immoral […] to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul.  He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn his natural passions.  His virtues are not real to him” (20).

Basil is afraid that Lord Henry will have a negative influence on Dorian.  Basil has an obsession with Dorian Gray and does not want Lord Henry to corrupt his friend’s mind.  He says that there is no good influence, only bad since it changes the mindset of the influenced person.  It is not good for the person to be influenced and to believe something that is not their natural thoughts because it may change how they feel or react to different situations, as we see later in chapter two.  Dorian Gray is influenced by Lord Henry’s conversation and thinks negatively about the painting because it will stay youthful forever while he continues to grow older.

The Scarlet Letter Winter Assignment

Chapter 15: Hester and Pearl 

• Hester hates Chillingworth (159)
  
• Pearl causes trouble at beach, but she feels bad when she hurts a bird (160)
  
• Pearl asks Dimmesdale holding his hand on his heart and asks what the scarlet letter means (161)
  
• Pearl makes seaweed A (161)
  
• Hester still thinks of  Pearl as her punishment that will lead to redemption (163)
  
• Chapter 16: A Forest Walk 
  
• Hester wants to tell Dimmesdale who Chillingworth really is (164)
  
• The forest seen as bad town as good, similar to “The Crucible” (165)
  
• No sunshine on Hester (167)
  
• Pearl talks about Devil and Book; Hester says A is his mark (167)
  

Chapter 17: The Pastor and His Parishioner 

• Hester sees Dimmesdale in the forest and they talk
  
• Dimmesdale talks about his daily torture (172)
  
• He thinks she is lucky to have the scarlet letter to bear openly compared to him having his sin eat him from the inside (173)
  
• She tells him who Chillingworth really is; he says that he had a feeling that Chillingworth was evil (175)
  
• They both talk about their future and how they should run away(179)
  

Chapter 18: A Flood of Sunshine 

• Hester takes the scarlet letter off and feels a sudden feeling of relief (182)
  
• The forest sunny, and it loses its negativity (183)
  
• Pearl is playing in the forest where we seen her as a part of nature; Hester wants her to meet Dimmesdale
  
• Forest is a place where sinners are comfortable
  
• Dark vs. Light seen again with sunshine shining on Hester after A is taken off
  

Chapter 19: The Child at the Brook-Side 

• Dimmesdale thinks  that Pearl looks like him and that the townspeople may think he is the father; similar to what Chillingworth says early about finding the man who looks like the father (186)
  
• Dimmesdale says that children usually don’t like him, but Pearl was nice to him the past two times they were together (187)
  
• Pearl refuses to cross the brook go to Hester because she is not wearing the scarlet letter (189)
  
• When Hester puts the letter back on Pearl comes to her; Hester feels the punishment again and Pearl kisses the A (190)
  
• Dimmesdale kisses Pearl, but Pearl washes her face in the brook (191)
  

Chapter 20: The Minister in a Maze 

• Hester does work for men who will take her Pearl and Dimmesdale to Europe
  
• Walks to town and feels changed: more energy
  
• “I am not the man for whom you take me” (195)
  
• Different confrontations with townspeople: He is afraid to talk with his deacon (196) He also has an awkward interactions with an old lady and a young woman, who he converted, who attends his church (196) He covers his face from the young woman because he is too ashamed and believes he may corrupt the entire town (197)
  
• Mistress Hibbens accuses Dimmesdale of going to the forest and meeting with the Devil 
  
• Dimmesdale tells Chillingworth that he doesn’t need his help anymore (201)
  
• He throws away his old sermon and writes a new one for Election day
  

Chapter 21: The New England Holiday 

• Town holiday where there is a parade for the elected official(202)
  
• All of the people are gathered at the town market for different reasons than before
  
• Pearl is upset about Dimmesdale being with them when nobody is around but avoids them in public(205)
  
• Pocket around Hester even in a crowded event (210)
  
• Chillingworth talks with the captain of a ship, and Hester finds out that Chillingworth will also be going on the boat with them( 210)
  
• People and town usually gloomy except on this day
  

Chapter 22: The Procession 

• Dimmesdale seems to be more energetic in a strange way (215)
  
• Pearl asks if he is the same man that was with Hester and her in the forest; Pearl is very uneasy as Dimmesdale passes(215)
  
• There are new people for this event and Hester has to deal with new stares
  
• Mistress Hibbens speaks with Hester about Dimmesdale and asks her what his secret is (216)
  
• Dimmesdale begins to make his speech; Everyone loves his speech

The Scarlet Letter 12: 221-235

“For thee and Pearl, be it as God shall order, and God is merciful!  Let me now do the will which He hat made plain before my sight.  For, Hester, I am a dying man.  So let me make haste to take my shame upon me!” (227)

• Dimmesdale knows that his time is up.  He has realized, along with many others, that he is a dying man.  He does not want to die with the burden of his sin resting on his heart.  He wants the world to know that he, along with Hester, sinned.  He knows not what the fate of the others, or even himself is, but he knows that God is merciful.  He wants everyone to know of his sin, and hopes his burden will be lifted.  He knows that this is God’s plan for him.  He is upset that it has taken him seven years to realize that this is what God wants him to do.  

“Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it.  Towards her mother, too, Pearl‘s errand as a messenger of anguish was fulfilled” (229). 

• In this quote we see that a change has happened in Pearl through this one action.  Her love is revealed to her father and the ‘spell’ that has been over her has been broken.  She no longer will be the elf child that she is perceived to be.  She will be like any other child.  She is no longer seen as the burden of the sin, but as a reward that came from it.  Their sins have been paid for, and Pearl no longer will be seen as that burden.  It also shows the love that Pearl had for her father.  She may not have known him to be her father all that time, but when the truth was revealed to everyone she showed her love for Mr. Dimmesdale.

“There were human beings enough, and enough of highly wrought and symphonious feeling, […]” (223)

Symphonious: harmonious in agreement or accord

"So etherealized by spirit as he was, and so apotheosized by worshipping admirers, did his footsteps, in procession, really tread upon the dust of earth?" (224)

Etherealized: to become ethereal; ethereal: extremely delicate or refined