Axel Graham
Knight 3
British Lit.
23 March 2016
Very rough draft
What is the definition of a monster? Is it a slimey creature that hides in the closets of children, or perhaps creature with teeth sharper than steak knives? Nearly infinite definitions exist, but The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley help to paint a clear picture of what a monster actually is. Frankenstein and Lord Henry are used to show that a true monster is someone that ruins the lives others either through negligence or subtle manipulations.
At first glance, Frankenstein seems to be a simple book about a man that creates a monster and regrets his decision for the rest of his life, but this is not the case: Frankenstein is a novel about …show more content…
By the end of the novel most people assume that Dorian is a monster and leave it at that, but Lord Henry (Wotton) is the one that first introduces Dorian to his sinful lifestyle. While it is true that Dorian is responsible for countless detestable deeds, the source of these actions must be taken into account. Not to say that Dorian is innocent, but he is by no means the source of the problem. Unlike Frankenstein, Henry fully aware of that he is destroying a pure soul, but instead of halting his actions he happily continues. Only moments after meeting Dorian, “Lord Henry [watches] him. He [knows] the precise psychological moment when to say nothing. . . He [is] amazed at the sudden impression his words had produced” (Wilde 14). This encounter makes him aware of his immense influence over Dorian, but he chooses to misuse his power. Lord Henry wields the power to make dorian into whatever type of person he desires, and his awareness of this knowledge is disturbing. Corrupting Dorian is considered a goal in Lord Henry 's eyes which makes him an exceptionally detestable individual. He is a calculating individual and knows exactly when to speak and when to remain silent (presumably from his extensive experience in manipulating others). Because of such manipulations and misinformed philosophies, Dorian quickly begins to see the world differently. This worldview causes him to …show more content…
"Oscar Wilde’S “Lord Arthur Savile’S Crime” And The Picture Of Dorian Gray : Point Counterpoint." Anq 27.3 (2014): 137-143. MasterFILE Elite. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, 1993. Print.
Watkins, Ron. "Frankenstein was not a doctor: misconceptions about the novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus arose from the errant and misleading interpretations of the story in film adaptations." Skeptical Inquirer Nov.-Dec. 2010: 36+. Science In Context. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Dover Publications, 1993.
Knight 3
British Lit.
23 March 2016
Very rough draft
What is the definition of a monster? Is it a slimey creature that hides in the closets of children, or perhaps creature with teeth sharper than steak knives? Nearly infinite definitions exist, but The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley help to paint a clear picture of what a monster actually is. Frankenstein and Lord Henry are used to show that a true monster is someone that ruins the lives others either through negligence or subtle manipulations.
At first glance, Frankenstein seems to be a simple book about a man that creates a monster and regrets his decision for the rest of his life, but this is not the case: Frankenstein is a novel about …show more content…
By the end of the novel most people assume that Dorian is a monster and leave it at that, but Lord Henry (Wotton) is the one that first introduces Dorian to his sinful lifestyle. While it is true that Dorian is responsible for countless detestable deeds, the source of these actions must be taken into account. Not to say that Dorian is innocent, but he is by no means the source of the problem. Unlike Frankenstein, Henry fully aware of that he is destroying a pure soul, but instead of halting his actions he happily continues. Only moments after meeting Dorian, “Lord Henry [watches] him. He [knows] the precise psychological moment when to say nothing. . . He [is] amazed at the sudden impression his words had produced” (Wilde 14). This encounter makes him aware of his immense influence over Dorian, but he chooses to misuse his power. Lord Henry wields the power to make dorian into whatever type of person he desires, and his awareness of this knowledge is disturbing. Corrupting Dorian is considered a goal in Lord Henry 's eyes which makes him an exceptionally detestable individual. He is a calculating individual and knows exactly when to speak and when to remain silent (presumably from his extensive experience in manipulating others). Because of such manipulations and misinformed philosophies, Dorian quickly begins to see the world differently. This worldview causes him to …show more content…
"Oscar Wilde’S “Lord Arthur Savile’S Crime” And The Picture Of Dorian Gray : Point Counterpoint." Anq 27.3 (2014): 137-143. MasterFILE Elite. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, 1993. Print.
Watkins, Ron. "Frankenstein was not a doctor: misconceptions about the novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus arose from the errant and misleading interpretations of the story in film adaptations." Skeptical Inquirer Nov.-Dec. 2010: 36+. Science In Context. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Dover Publications, 1993.