*Finish reading _Dorian Gray_
---write response?
---Discussion Monday
*Blogger Bonus (open ALL WEEKEND): What are your preliminary responses to the ending? Did you like it, hate it? What was left unanswered?
*Objective: During reading, use strategies to self-monitor comprehension, question to clarify, reflect, & draw conclusions
3 comments:
I found the ending disappointing. Whenever Dorian had a mean thought or action, it showed in the painting. The painting never seemed to reflect any of Dorian’s good intentions. Even though Dorian wanted to change, the painting never seemed to reflect his changes of thought, attitude, or even good deeds. Yet, it always seemed to show his negative thoughts and behaviors. I think if the painting had even shown the smallest change, it would have encouraged him to keep working on improving himself. It seemed hopeless. The reader can understand why Dorian felt “it was an unjust mirror, this mirror of his soul that he was looking at” (Wilde 244). If the painting had shown any change when he was trying to make up with Sibyl, Dorian’s life may have turned out differently. I wondered what Lord Henry’s reaction would be to Dorian’s death. He had lost his buddy. What would he think about the huge change in Dorian’s appearance? What would he think about the fact that Dorian had been stabbed in the chest? Would he want to find the killer? Lord Henry is just as much of a monster as Dorian. Basil had told Dorian that he had ruined the reputation of Lord Henry’s sister, yet Lord Henry still remained friends with him. In some ways, Lord Henry is the real villain of this story. Dorian adopted Lord Henry’s attitudes and philosophies. I really wanted Dorian to change and the painting to show some improvements. I would have liked Wilde to show Lord Henry’s reactions and thoughts about Dorian’s death.
Christine B. 7th hour
I really liked the ending to The Picture of Dorian Gray. I truly enjoyed how James Vane ended up being the person who was killed in the woods. I was glad Dorian did not have to worry about James Vane killing him anymore. I also thought Dorian was lucky that no one suspected him of murdering Basil and that no one would believe him even if he did. I sort of suspected Dorian was going to die and I liked how he died. The book semi leaves how he died unanswered though but I think Wilde wants you to assume that by Dorian taking the knife to the painting was the same thing as Dorian stabbing himself. I liked how then the painting went back to normal so it really looked like Dorian committed suicide. I think the last two chapters were the most exciting chapters and really answered a lot of questions; however, I think the people who found Dorian dead would be really confused because he looked different since the painting gave him back his age and what he was supposed to look like.
Michelle B., 5th Hour
I was very happy with the ending of the book. I thought it was very ironic how Dorian was telling his friends not to shoot the hare, he wanted to spare its life and if they would have listen to him then James's life would have been spared also. I thought that was a very interesting twist on things. Im glad Dorian tried to change at the end, but I think it was too late. He had already gotten away with murder and lied to save his life. I also liked how at the end Dorain couldn't face the painting because he knew that was his true self and what he had become. So as he tries to destroy the painting It really destorys him. It was neat to see him die with the same knife as he killed Basil with, and He was only reconizable from the rings on his hand. Over all I liked how Wilde ended the book, but the one thing he left unanswered was what Dorain was doing in the weeks or months he spent hiding out in his house. THe first time he closed himself out Wilde told us he read all the "yellow" books but this last time before he killed himself: What was he doing all alone in his house for that time?
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