Macbeth and Picture of Dorian Gray Essay - 1821 Words

The Picture of Dorian Gray – Victorian Era Gray swaps his soul for the painting through an indirect Faustian Bargain. Quote: Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that! Social Values/Context: Aestheticism was exposed to Dorian Gray by Lord Henry who was an aesthetic himself, which ultimately leads to the Faustian Bargain. Quote: Oh, she is better than good – she is beautiful, murmured Lord Henry, sipping a glass of vermouth and orange-bitters. Dorian says she is beautiful, and he is not often wrong about things of that kind. Your portrait of him has quickened his appreciation of the personal appearance of other people. It has had that excellent effect, amongst others. Historical†¦show more content†¦This reflects the convention of appearance versus reality, and through this the appearance of Gray and the reality he lives in is represented through his insatiable desire for eternal beauty. Wilde intends to use the conventional theme of appearance versus reality in a Faustian Bargain to convey the idea of a fatal correspondence between the painting and Dorian’s life. Where the painting’s appearance differs exponentially from Gray’s reality of corrupt and murderous behaviour. Shakespeare also displays the fatal correspondence that exists between the witches’ prophecy in his play Macbeth, which reflects on the Faustian Bargain theme. Elizabethan period sparked a profound interest in witchcraft, and through this Shakespeare had used the three witches as the catalyst for Macbeth’s Faustian Bargain. A parallel can be drawn with Macbeth’s reality and the appearance of his fate through the prophecy of the witches, who act as external manipulators of Macbeth’s thoughts. Through biblical allusion the fact that the witches are prophets of Macbeth’s destiny is ironic, as they are not acting in the place of God, but in the place of Satan. 1. Dorian Gray: Values can affect the induction of the Faustian Bargain, through both texts the values and how they affect the introduction of the Faustian Bbargain are explored through the relationships and values of the characters. The novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde exploresShow MoreRelatedEssay Prompts4057 Words   |  17 PagesAP ENGLISH LIT AND COMP FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS 2004 (Form A): Critic Roland Barthes has said, â€Å"Literature is the question minus the answer.† Choose a novel or play and, considering Barthes’ Observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers any answers. Explain how the author’s treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. You may select a work from the list below or anotherRead MoreRhetorical Devices3007 Words   |  13 Pages | | |Gross as her sire, and as her mother grave (Pope, Dunciad) | | |Fair is foul and foul is fair. (Shakespeare, Macbeth) | | |Swans sing before they die – ‘twere no bad thing | | |Did certain persons die before they