Verified Document

Joyce Carol Oates Sees "The Picture Of Term Paper

Joyce Carol Oates sees "The Picture of Dorian Gray" as a revelation as to another side of Wilde; one that questioned the aestheticism professed by Lord Henry and other characters in the novel. She claims that the book evokes Faust and the devil, as the portrait of Dorian Gray was surely evil and the aesthetic beauty of Dorian corrupted by demonic influence. In this light, A Picture of Dorian Gray is a cautionary tale and its protagonist a tragic hero that is eventually overcome by his own carnal lusts. Oates focuses on the homoerotic undertones of the book and that by invoking Dorian's beauty, Basil sewed the seeds of his own fate.

What she fails to recognize in the book, however, is the role of pederasty and how Basil is in effect a tragic hero, as is Humbert in Nabakov's Lolita. A careful read of Wilde's work will show us that Basil succumbs to Dorian's beauty and that his creation of the portrait is a metaphorical description...

Whereas Lord Henry is a less sublime corruptive influence in that he openly extols the virtues of promiscuity, Basil reveals Dorian's beauty to him by painting a portrait. Basil's love for the boy gives Dorian power, and the portrait is a device relaying the nature of that power. As Basil's portrait is an act of mastery whereby he is able to 'capture' Dorian, it is Basil that is entrapped by Dorian's Adonis-like beauty. We see this reflected in Wilde's personal life if the movie 'Wilde' can be believed: the enraptured pederast will always see the playful youth as a projection of his own desires, no matter how crooked or terrible the truth may be. In this respect, Dorian is far from the victim; the portrait serves as his transformation, however subtle, from his role as unknowing, unsuspecting child to that of a skilled manipulator of adult lusts.
Oates' interpretation of the novel quo Faust…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Joyce Carol Oates: A Stylistic
Words: 1500 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Although one could write a gritty, objective tale about either boxing or farm workers, and although Joyce could have interviewed either the authors she critiques or the boxers she chronicles, her concerns are now more of a metaphysical nature, and her prose reflects this -- Joyce is now less a writer in the field of contemporary journalist, than a cultural critic who considers her subjectivity a strength rather than

Joyce Carol Oates, "I, the
Words: 1425 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

The system, the attorneys and the jury seem to be too biased in their assessment of the case, obviously swerving from the real purpose that any trial should have, that is, reaching justice. Racism which is inherently present even in modern, present-day society is even a part of the system of justice, as Oates observes. Instead of a fair outcome, the result of the trial is the huge confusion

Joyce Carol Oates and the Traits of
Words: 2672 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Joyce Carol Oates and the Traits of the Mid-Twentieth Century Writer Just as society changes over time, writing changes over time. Writers today rarely write in the same forms as Shakespeare once did. As well as style, the subjects of writing change, with this expected since society has changed over time. For example, it is hardly likely that Shakespeare would have written about the issue of feminism. Even looking at writing

Joyce Carol Oates Story, Where Are You
Words: 544 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Joyce Carol Oates story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? The writer of this paper explores why society sometimes punishes those who are different using the story as an example. Society has always treated people who are differently with a less welcome attitude than those who are like everybody else. It has held true in almost every life setting from school classrooms, to work environments to social gatherings.

Worried About You, by Joyce Carol Oates.
Words: 348 Length: 1 Document Type: Thesis

Worried about You," by Joyce Carol Oates. Specifically, it will summarize the story, and the characters in the story. "We Were Worried about You" is a story of family, but it is also a story of what people ignore in their lives, and how it affects them. WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU The characters in Oates short story are seemingly a normal and happy middle class family. They identify with their

Life in Post War American Through the Eyes of Joyce Carol Oates
Words: 2266 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

Analysis and Discussion of Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” OutlineIntroductionReview and DiscussionOverview of the plotDiscussion of carelessness as part of immaturityConclusionAnalysis and Discussion of Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”Except for the armed forces still slugging it out in the frozen battlefields of Korea, the late 1950s were a great time to be alive in the United States –

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now